Nearly 200 Bangladeshi workers, who had gone to work in Libya, have taken to streets to protest alleged torture by the recruiter.
More than one worker alleged that 196 Bangladeshi workers and 30 Indian workers had been living under open sky with empty pockets without food for four days in front of a police station of Borak Al Shafi, 900 kilometres from Libya’s capital, Tripoli.
They also alleged that they did not get any help from the Bangladesh embassy in Libya and the agency through which they went there.
The workers went to work for a construction firm ‘Al Rayed’ at Borak Al Shafi one and a half years ago. Riaz Overseas of Gulshan-1 had sent Bangladeshi workers in Libya.
Reazul Islam, director of the agency, told bdnews24.com: “I have heard about them, but what I can do sitting here. I have applied for visa and it will take some days.”
Hasan Kibria Siddiki, first secretary (labour) at the Bangladesh embassy, told bdnews24.com that they had sent an official to investigate the matter.
“But they didn’t say anything to us before getting out of the recruiting agency.”
“We cannot do anything for them after they broke the law of the country, but we are trying to get them back to work there again.”
“As per contract, they have to work there for two years before they can get their plane fare back.”
Worker Rabiul Haq said, “An official from the embassy went to them, but spoke neither Arabic nor English and so without doing anything for us he sided with the recruiter.”
Asked about the official, Siddiki said, “I am bringing him back upon the workers’ allegation and another senior official will be sent to them.”
The Indian embassy is also taking up the matter as there some Indian workers there, he said.
The foreign ministry apparently is unaware of the situation.
Director general (Africa) of the ministry, M Wahidur Rahman, told bdnews24.com: “The embassy’s labour wing is supposed to look into the matter.”
“I don’t know if Bangladeshi workers have contacted he embassy. The issue should be resolved there.”
Overseas employment minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain told bdnews24.com: “It is the first time I heard about it. Let me find out more about this and then I will decide what to do about it.”
About the tortures of workers, he said, “No one hit anyone without any reason. Why do they hit the workers if they don’t do anything bad?”
