Yearly, numerous Bangladeshis pursue migration with hopes for a better future. However, even before embarking on their journey, they endure significant hardships. Forced to pay hefty sums in installments to reach their desired destinations, many families are compelled to sell off their village properties.
Research uncovers that recruiting agencies demand exorbitant fees, surpassing government-set rates for sending workers abroad. Furthermore, the legally owed earnings of workers fail to return to the country, resulting in substantial revenue losses for the government. Allegedly, a syndicate of recruiting agencies orchestrates this process.
Industry insiders reveal the lucrative nature of the manpower sector, prompting the dispatch of workers without confirmed job placements. Government-to-government opportunities exist in select countries, with varying costs for migration. However, clandestine practices persist, with fake companies exploiting Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.
Lotteries for worker demand letters are manipulated, with agencies inflating costs per worker. Amidst the profit-driven landscape, agencies eagerly seize opportunities, even in the absence of genuine employment prospects.
Despite regulatory measures, numerous agencies consistently overcharge, perpetuating the cycle of exploitation. This plight extends to countries like Oman, where workers like Israfil Ali recount disillusionment and financial loss.
Instances of workers paying exorbitant fees for meager job prospects, as evidenced by Aviat International’s case, underscore systemic issues within the industry. Shahriar Hossain’s ordeal in Saudi Arabia further highlights the grim realities faced by migrant workers.
While assurances from authorities like Baira President Abul Bashar offer a semblance of hope, the systemic exploitation continues unabated. The silence of officials like Ruhul Amin and Dr. Ahmed Monirus Salehin hints at the systemic apathy towards this crisis.
Immigration expert Asif Munir Baratifi warns of the dire consequences of the unethical immigration process, stressing the urgent need for reform to safeguard the welfare of Bangladeshi workers abroad.
