Staff Reporter :
Around 109 Bangladeshi female migrants retuned home from Saudi Arabia on Monday night empty-handed.
A total number of 45 female workers returned on the evening flights while 65 more reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at night.
They were reported to have experienced various forms of abuse by their employers in Saudi Arabia.
Many of them have also complained about physical torture and nonpayment of wages.
Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Additional Secretary of Migration Welfare wing of Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said these female workers have been brought back to Bangladesh through management of Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh.
“In primary investigation, they complained that the environment was not favorable as some faced job difficulties while others described horrific incidents of abuse,” he said.
All the costs of their return have been provided, and financial assistance will be given if needed, added Dr Ahmed.
“These migrants had been staying in the safe home run by Bangladesh embassy in Riyadh for a long time,” Brac’s Migration Program Head Shariful Hasan said.
Upon their return, the Expatriate Welfare Board and the Brac’s Migration Program provided emergency assistance, which took care of their meals, he added.
This year, around 800 female workers have returned to Bangladesh from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Last year, the Brac Migration Program provided emergency services for the safe return of 1365 female migrants.
