Release of returnee migrants demanded
Fortyfour eminent citizens and Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants, a civil society network of organisations working on migration, on Thursday demanded the release of the returnee migrant workers who were arrested by the authorities after returning from different countries.
It is surprising that the migrants who returned to the country after being exploited were thrown into jails whereas the perpetrators either remain scot-free or face little action, according to the identical but separate statements.
A total of 83 returnee migrant workers were sent to jail on September 1 under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on ‘fictitious’ grounds of tarnishing the image of Bangladesh abroad as they completed quarantine after returning from Vietnam and Qatar.
Some 219 migrants were also sent to jail on the same grounds as they returned from Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain earlier, according to the statements.
In both cases, the victims were arrested after completing quarantine at the government-run quarantine centre at Diabari in Dhaka.
They also called on the government for an end to such arrests and harassment.
Eminent citizens who made the joint statement include Dhaka University professor emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury, Ganosasthya Kendra founding trustee Zafrullah Chowdhury, Jahangirnagar University economics professor Anu Muhammad, Central Women’s University vice chancellor Parween Hasan, photographer Shahidul Alam, Dhaka University professor CR Abrar, Illinois State University professor Ali Riaz, lawyer Shahdeen Malik, Sara Hossain and Jyotirmoy Barua, Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekheruzzaman, Badiul Alam Majumdar of Sujan, Syeda Rizwana Hasan of BELA, Adilur Rahman Khan of Odhikar, researcher Rahnuma Ahmed, women rights activists Farida Akhter and Shireen Haq and professors Rubayet Ferdous and Swapan Adnan.
Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit, WARBE Development Foundation, BRAC, Ain o Salish Kendra, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association, Obhibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme, Human Rights Support Society, IMA Research Foundation, International Network of Alternative Financial Institutions Bangladesh, Bangladesh Construction and Wood Workers Federation, Young Power in Social Action, Bangladesh Ovibashi Adhikar Forum, BASTOB, Rights Jessore, Center for Development Communications DEVCOM Ltd, Films 4 Peace Foundation, Change Makers and BASUG issued the statement for BCSM.
New Age
