AB Party places seven demands for migrant workers, including ending Malaysia syndicate

Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has placed seven demands, including ending the syndicate and excess migration costs in the Malaysian labour market, verifying recruitment to prevent fraud in the name of jobs in Russia, and removing the complications of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) for legal jobs in Europe.

The demands were raised by AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju and Expatriate Welfare Secretary Raja Golam Rabbani at a press conference on Monday at the party's central office in Bijoy Nagar, Dhaka.

At the press conference, Mojibur Rahman Manju said expatriates cannot be seen merely as machines for sending remittances. They are citizens of Bangladesh and important partners in the country's economy.

Yet, in going abroad, they face fraud, debt, harassment and uncertainty. Ensuring their safe migration, fair employment, legal protection and dignity is the responsibility of the state, he said.

Information has been published showing that between 2022 and 2024, a worker's migration cost to the Malaysian labour market was five to six lakh taka or more above the officially fixed cost. The fixed cost was only about 79,000 taka.

In a written statement at the press conference, Raja Golam Rabbani said that in the move to reopen the Malaysian labour market, a syndicate of a limited number of agencies must not be allowed to take hold. Equal opportunity must be ensured for all qualified and licensed agencies.

Among AB Party's seven demands are effective measures to end syndicates and excess migration costs in Malaysia and all labour markets; publishing a full and transparent account of recruitment costs and stopping the illegal collection of money from workers.

The demands also include special arrangements to verify the employer, the job contract and the nature of the work in risky labour markets including Russia, and issuing BMET clearance quickly and transparently for workers who have valid jobs and visas in Europe.

The other demands include diplomatic initiatives to expand European visa applications and biometric services in Bangladesh; ensuring quick legal assistance and return home for workers who are victims of fraud, unpaid wages, passport confiscation and human trafficking abroad; and launching an integrated digital system for receiving and resolving expatriates' complaints.

Mojibur Rahman Manju said that after the people's verdict in the referendum, there is no longer any political basis for the note of dissent given on various decisions of the interim government.

He said the BNP had given a note of dissent on the interim government's security adviser and the Chattogram port. But after coming to power, it gave that same security adviser the responsibility of foreign minister. The Chattogram port has been leased to DP World. He asked, if everything is accepted, why is there so much reluctance to accept the verdict of the referendum?

Also present at the press conference were AB Party Senior Vice Chairman OhAB Minar, Joint General Secretary Abbas Islam Khan, Dhaka Metropolitan North Convener Selim Khan, Barishal Divisional Organising Secretary Gazi Nasir and Employment Affairs Secretary Safiul Bashar.