Rally outside Press Club demands tough diplomatic steps to stop abuse of workers in Saudi Arabia: over 7,000 Bangladeshis in prisons

Revolutionary Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque has called on the government to take tough diplomatic steps to stop the abuse, death sentences and beheadings of expatriate workers, including Bangladeshis, in Saudi Arabia. He also demanded that, if necessary, sending workers be temporarily stopped to countries that fail to ensure workers' minimum human and labour rights.

Saiful Haque made the remarks at a protest rally organised by Biplobi Sramik Sanghati in front of the National Press Club at 11am on Thursday (29 October). The programme was held in protest at the recent beheading of two Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia and to demand that the lives and safety of expatriate workers be ensured.

At the rally, Saiful Haque said more than 7,000 Bangladeshi workers are still imprisoned in various prisons in Saudi Arabia. Ensuring their legal assistance and safety is the state's responsibility. But, he alleged, the ministries and embassies concerned show no effective role in ensuring workers' safety, legal protection and human dignity after they are sent abroad.

He said the inhuman lives of the workers whose remittances make an important contribution to the country's economy can in no way be accepted. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the embassies concerned must be made accountable for the protection of expatriate workers.

Expressing concern over the safety of expatriate women workers, Saiful Haque said the lives and dignity of women workers abroad are at the greatest risk. Many women who go to work as domestic workers are abused by members of their employers' families. The government must take effective steps for their protection and rehabilitation.

At the rally, Bahnishikha Jamali, a member of the Revolutionary Workers Party's political council, said many expatriate women workers face various forms of abuse, including sexual abuse. The government must act quickly to end workers' unsafe lives, she said.

Criticising the charging of excessive money and the syndicates of recruiting agencies in sending workers abroad, Saiful Haque said there are allegations that Tk 6 to 7 lakh is taken from workers going to Malaysia. He demanded that the real cost of sending workers abroad be fixed, the charging of extra money stopped, and those responsible brought to account. He also called for proper training for workers to enter new labour markets.

Chaired by the organisation's president Mir Mofazzal Hossain Moshtak and conducted by joint general secretary Md Firoz Ali, the rally was also addressed by Biplobi Garments Sramik Sanghati president Mahmud Hossain, Biplobi Sramik Sanghati general secretary Saiful Islam, Biplobi Jubo Sanghati member secretary Mir Rezaul Alam, Sramajibi Nari Maitree vice-president Rashida Akter and Noujan Sramik Federation president Anisur Rahman Master.

After the rally, a protest procession set out from in front of the National Press Club. It marched through various roads of the capital and ended at the organisation's central office in Segunbagicha.