Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait remains “sympathetic” towards the Bangladeshi workers picked up by Kuwaiti police on charge of vandalizing Embassy property and assaulting its three staff physically, said an official on Saturday.
The Embassy is also putting in its “best efforts” to get the “innocent” workers released though the Embassy will have little to do for the “wrongdoers” who will be spotted through CCTV footage, said the official indicating that steps will be taken as per the law.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Kuwait SM Abul Kalam, however, said they are in touch with the officials concerned and working seriously for the
early release of the detained Bangladeshi workers.
“We’re looking into the interests of our workers seriously,” he told UNB mentioning that it might take a few more days to get them released as Friday and Sunday are weekend in Kuwait.
On Friday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen urged all Bangladesh missions abroad and expatriate Bangladeshis to take proper steps to avoid the repetition of any incident like what happened in Bangladesh Embassy in Kuwait on Thursday.
Three people, including counsellor (political) and head of chancery Md Anisuzzaman were injured when a group of Bangladeshi workers of a Kuwaiti company – Lesco – attacked them.
“Local police brought the situation under control and picked some workers up. The situation now remains fully peaceful,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Friday night.
The government and the Embassy in Kuwait have taken steps to have the arrested Bangladeshi workers released, said the MoFA.
Lesco has assured the workers of paying their arrears by February 5 and resolving the issues related to renewal of work permit.
Kuwaiti authorities are investigating Thursday’s vandalism and physical assaults on staff inside Bangladesh Embassy by a group of agitated Bangladeshi workers based on First Information Report (FIR).
On Thursday, a group of Bangladeshi workers ransacked the Embassy property, including computers and TV, despite assurance from the Ambassador to address their issues through discussions.
Some 300-400 Bangladeshi workers, employees of the Kuwaiti company, took position in front of the Embassy expressing their grievances against the company over arrears of three months – October-December 2018 – and iqamas (work permits) issues in the morning.
