Just two weeks after reaching Mauritius, 11 Bangladeshi garment workers were killed and three others injured in a traffic accident yesterday.
All the workers hailed from Comilla and Brahmanbaria.
According to information received at the foreign ministry sent by Honorary Consul General of Bangladesh Yusuf Abdur Razzak, the Bangladeshi workers died on their way to work when a lorry collided with their vehicle around 7:00am local time.
A Mauritius national was also killed in the accident.
All the bodies were kept in a local hospital while the injured were undergoing treatment, the consul general reported.
The dead are: Akther (Passport: E0314113), son of Ali Abjal of village Solabaria; Al Mamun (Passport: Z0170334), son of A Yousuf of village Saidabad; Joy Hossain (Passport: E1049905), son of Taher Miah of village Goalnagar; Md Mostafijor Rahman (Passport: C0469490), son of Abdul Hakim of village Saidabad under Kasba; Md Rakibul Hasan (Passport: E0230462), son of Md Ali Afjal of village Durgapur under Ashuganj; Mohammed Saidur (Passport: E1241290), son of Rashid Miah Rahman of village Gonga Sagar under Akhaura; Sagor (Passport: E1262162), son of Jaju Miah of village Chakchandarpur under Kasba of Brahmanbaria district; Md Jahidul (Passport E1875100), son of Jalaluddin; Moktar (Passport: E1874890), son of Monu Molla of village Sonakanda under Titas; Selim (Passport: E1876107), son of Renu Mia of village Banchharampur under Titas of Comilla district and Md Elias Gazi (Passport: F0723931), son of Md Huzu Gazi, 21/2 Uttar Madartek, Bashabo under Sabujbagh in Dhaka (home-district Comilla).
The injured are: Mamun (Passport: E0913783), son of Dhanu Mia of village Mongalkandi under Homna; Md Hassan Sarkar (Passport: E 0068189), son of Md Dulal Sarkar of village Barashwar under Burichong of Comilla district; and Sumon (Passport: E0229351), son of Kuddus Miah of village Barail under Sarail in Brahmanbaria.
Talking to reporters, Director General of Africa Wing of the Foreign Ministry M Wahidur Rahman said steps have been taken to bring back the bodies and the injured people are being provided with necessary treatment.
He said the dead and injured Bangladeshi workers went to Mauritius on December 30 as sewing machine operators for Pandemonio Co Ltd.
The director general said the honorary consul general informed him that all the workers had insurance coverage and they will get compensation while the company will provide costs for return of the bodies.
Wahid said both Bangladesh and Mauritius enjoy excellent bilateral relations and the country has been importing Bangladeshi workers in garments, construction and fishing industries.
“Currently over 12,000 Bangladeshis are working in Mauritius and every day more workers are going there with work permit. Even 23 people left for Mauritius today [yesterday].”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni talked with Mauritius Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Arvin Boolell.
The Mauritius minister on behalf of his government and people expressed deep shock at the death of Bangladeshi workers and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
He assured Bangladesh of compensation for those killed.
Dipu Moni instructed officials concerned at the foreign ministry to work for quick return of the bodies. She also expressed deep shock at the death of the workers and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved family members.
