B’desh migrant workers’ deaths highest in 14yrs

DOT Desk: In 2018, Bangladesh received the highest number of bodies of its migrant workers from abroad in last 14 years, according to Wage Earners Welfare Board, reports The New Age.
At least 3,793 Bangladeshi workers died abroad in the last year mostly due to stroke or heart attack.
WEWB deputy director Zahid Anwar told New Age Thursday that the WEWB received the bodies of 3,676 documented migrants and 117 undocumented migrant.
In 2018, according to WEWB statistics, at least 3,353 bodies were flown to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital while 374 bodies were flown to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattagrum and 66 bodies to Osmani International Airport in Sylhet.
In 2017, at least 3,387 bodies of migrant workers arrived, in 2016 –3,481 bodies and in 2005 – 1, 2 48 bodies, WEWB statistics showed.
Migrant rights campaigners expressed deep concern over the deaths of so many workers abroad, mostly in the 25 to 35 age group.
The burden of debts caused most of the deaths , they said.
‘We think that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that Bangladeshi migrant workers work in safe working environment abroad.
There should be some monitoring arrangement in place to ensure this. We also demand holding post-mortem of the bodies of the migrant workers on arrival in Bangladesh to find out the exact cause of the deaths. Only then all doubts shrouding the deaths would go,’ said Bikash.
Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association director Sumiya Islam said that the migrant workers live in frustration due to high migration cost and non-payment of wages by their overseas employers.
‘Our migrants deaths increased as their rights were not prtected,’ she said, adding that workers should be sent abroad after properly checking their job visas.
Migrants’ rights activist Faruque Ahmed, also the WARBE Development Foundation secretary general, called the deaths as ‘worrisome’.
Faruque, who once worked in Saudi Arabia, said that migrant workers were forced to live in substandard accommodations abroad.
Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program chairman Shakirul Islam said that high cost of migration, substandard living conditions and unfriendly working atmosphere caused most of the premature deaths of ‘our migrant workers’.
Referring to OKUP study findings, Shakir said that 25 per cent children of the deceased migrant workers drop out of schools due to poverty.
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit director Marina Sultana said that the safe workplaces and medical facilities should be provided to the migrant workers in destination countries.