The number of women returnees as domestic helps from Saudi Arabia appears unlikely to stop.
More than 150 women came back home last month for the same unresolved cause of workplace abuse and the like.
Of the females, 31 and 22 returned on January 28 and 30 respectively, disclosed officials and rights activists.
At least six of the returnees are facing severe trauma, with three undergoing treatment at different hospitals and One-Stop Crisis Centre.
Besides, two physically assaulted women have taken admission to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Talking to the FE, a sister of Amena Khatun (not her real name) said Amena is suffering from mental disorder so they have taken her to Osmani Medical College.
Ms Amena, who hails from Sylhet, went to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia just one year back.
"Two months ago, we suddenly heard my sister was very sick and she would come back home," her sister said.
Now, she can hardly communicate with people.
Like Amena, a fair chunk of women returned home with mental health complications since January 2018.
"Their numbers may be higher as many still remain unreported," said Shariful Islam, head of BRAC migration programme.
For example, he continued, two or three women in almost every flight come home from the Arab country.
"We received some 15 women with psychological trauma last year. And this year, we have so far got five to six such women," Mr Islam mentioned.
He said it is very unfortunate that the authorities have yet to outline a proper reintegration programme.
A large number of women came home with multiple problems. Without reintegration support, it is quite impossible for them to get back normal life.
According to the welfare desk at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and rights activists, over 1,500 domestic helps returned from the Gulf state last year.
They faced exploitations like denial of wages and sexual and physical assaults there.
Asst Prof Dr Farzana Rahman at the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital said the women have lost mental balance because of inhuman torture.
In many cases, they cannot explain what they have faced at their workplaces due to severe mental distress, she told the FE.
Sometimes a long-term treatment is needed for them to return to normal. Family and society support is also vital in times of such crisis, Ms Rahman explained.
When asked, she said they have so far received a good number of such patients.
Since 1991, about 0.8 million women workers went abroad with jobs, showed the data of the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training. Of them, 0.3 million went to Saudi Arabia.
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