Eleven progressive political organisations demanded the immediate release of detained migrant workers who returned home during Covid-19 pandemic period and were arrested by police after completing mandatory quarantine.
The organisations made the demand in a statement on Saturday and urged the lawyers to provide legal supports to the workers. They also urged the countrymen to stand beside them and protest against the oppression to the helpless migrant workers.
The organisations are Jatiya Gonofront, BASOD (Marxist), Bangladesher Somajtantrik Party, Bangladesher Shadinata Party, Nayagontantrik Gonomorcha, Jatiya Mukti Council, Gonomukti Union, Bangladesher Somajtrik Dol, Sromojibi Songho, Communist Union and Jatiya Gonotantrik Gonomoncho.
Expressing concerns over such arrests, the leaders of the organisations said a total of 384 returnee migrant workers were arrested by law enforcers during July 04 and September 01 period. The workers returned from Vietnam, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
The law enforcers filed four general diaries (GDs) against the workers. But the language of the GDs is similar. So, it proves that the complaints are artificial, the statement said.
Referring to media reports, the statement mentioned that Vietnam returnees were not accused by any case in that country. Moreover, they returned home empty-handed from the country after being exploited by a section of recruiting agencies.
The workers who returned from Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain finished their imprisonment period before returning to the country.
But they all were accused by the same artificial complaints and arrested under section 54 and were sent to jail after returning home. Although the cases are bailable, the workers, so far did not get bail, leaders of the organisations said.
About Vietnam returnees, they said the workers went to that country through completing all necessary government procedures. But they have been cheated by dishonest manpower recruiters.
“So, how did the government provide manpower clearances?” they posed a question.
Moreover, the workers become victimised again after returning home as they sought assistance and protested against the recruiters at the Bangladesh Embassy in Vietnam.
The organisations think that the workers have been taken to jail to save vested quarters and stop protest against oppression to the workers
The organisations demanded ensuring compensation to the workers, cancelation of licences of dishonest recruiters and brining the vicious cycle under book.
