The returnee migrants of Bangladesh have been deprived of
getting due wages at the host countries, said the RMMRU
revealed on Monday
About 75 per cent of the returnee migrant workers said that
they were picked up from public places, detained in jails and
forcibly returned, according to the findings presented by
RMMRU founding chair Dr Tasneem Siddiqui.
She made the PowerPoint presentation at a webinar on ‘Other
Face of Globalization: Arbitrary Return of Bangladeshi
Migrants and their unpaid dues’ hosted by RMMRU. It was
attended by government’s top officials, civil society leaders,
global migration experts and rights activists.
The study was done with in-depth interview of 50 migrants who
returned in last three months under RMMRU-SEEM project on
emergency return supported by Manusher Jonno Foundation.
The migrants returned from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Malaysia and they were originally from the districts of Tangail,
Munishiganj, Cumilla, Chattogram, Narshingdi, Dinajpur,
Barisal, Jhalkathi, Kishoreganj, Meherpur, Natore, Narail, Feni,
Madaripur, Chadpur and Jashore.
‘None of those who have been arbitrarily sent back were in
detention before. They were picked up from stores and roads.
They were arrested during Covid 19,’ the RMMRU study
found.
‘It also implies that the claim by countries of destination that
personal safety of those in detention led them to repatriate
them does not appear to be valid. ‘
Treatment at jail
On average the interviewees were detained/jailed for 20 days.
Most of them narrated dehumanizing treatment as they were
subjected to beating. ‘2-3 three people had sharing a bed.
Inadequate and low quality food were provided. ‘
‘Most had to stay in one pair of clothes for days. Toilet and
shower facilities were extremely inadequate. In one instance a
diabetic person did not receive medication.’
Those who returned from Malaysia and those who returned on
leave faced no major problems.
The experiences of those who have been forcibly returned
have gone through trauma and been subjected to
mistreatment.
These migrants were shifted from detention centre/jails to
airport. Hence they could not bring back their belongings
(money and other items) that remained in the
camps/dormitories.
Payment due
26% of the returnees do not have any outstanding payment
due.