Staff Reporter :
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought consular access to 134 detainees ‘trafficked’ in Thailand from the Thai authorities to verify their nationalities.
“We’ve sought consular access through Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand. We hope we’ll get it soon as we’ve very good relations with Thailand,” acting Foreign Secretary Mustafa Kamal told this at a press conference at the Ministry on Sunday.
Earlier, Thai police rescued them in two groups from a province near Phuket in Thailand and 118 of whom claimed themselves as Bangladeshis.
Mostafa Kamal said, they will be able to know about the matter in details once they get the consular access and identify the Bangladeshis. “Our Embassy is in close touch with the Thai government,” he added.
“The interview of first group is at the final stage and the second group’s interview is also going on. Thirty-eight people of the first 53-member group claimed that they are Bangladesh nationals while 15 claimed to be Myanmar’s,” he added.
The acting Foreign Secretary also said 80 people of 81-member second group claimed that they are from Bangladesh while the rest one is from Myanmar.
He said it will not be difficult to bring them back home as Bangladesh has good relations with Thailand. “A process in this regard is on.”
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, who was also present at the press conference, said the incident was part of ‘human trafficking’, not human slavery. “It’s not our problem alone…many other countries have the same problem,” he said adding that the government has taken necessary steps to deal with it.
He also said, the Bangladeshi nationals will be brought back following due process.
The Foreign Minister informed that some 740 Bangladeshis entered Thailand this year.
Earlier, the BBC and the BBC Bangla reported that some 130 Bangladesh nationals have been rescued after being abducted and shipped to Thailand to be sold as ‘slaves’.
Director General (America and Europe) Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman, DG Director General (South Asia wing) Tareq M Ariful Islam and DG (External Publicity Wing) Noor-E Helal Saifur Rahman were, among others, present at the media briefing on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’ s participation in the 10th ASEM Summit.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought consular access to 134 detainees ‘trafficked’ in Thailand from the Thai authorities to verify their nationalities.
“We’ve sought consular access through Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand. We hope we’ll get it soon as we’ve very good relations with Thailand,” acting Foreign Secretary Mustafa Kamal told this at a press conference at the Ministry on Sunday.
Earlier, Thai police rescued them in two groups from a province near Phuket in Thailand and 118 of whom claimed themselves as Bangladeshis.
Mostafa Kamal said, they will be able to know about the matter in details once they get the consular access and identify the Bangladeshis. “Our Embassy is in close touch with the Thai government,” he added.
“The interview of first group is at the final stage and the second group’s interview is also going on. Thirty-eight people of the first 53-member group claimed that they are Bangladesh nationals while 15 claimed to be Myanmar’s,” he added.
The acting Foreign Secretary also said 80 people of 81-member second group claimed that they are from Bangladesh while the rest one is from Myanmar.
He said it will not be difficult to bring them back home as Bangladesh has good relations with Thailand. “A process in this regard is on.”
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, who was also present at the press conference, said the incident was part of ‘human trafficking’, not human slavery. “It’s not our problem alone…many other countries have the same problem,” he said adding that the government has taken necessary steps to deal with it.
He also said, the Bangladeshi nationals will be brought back following due process.
The Foreign Minister informed that some 740 Bangladeshis entered Thailand this year.
Earlier, the BBC and the BBC Bangla reported that some 130 Bangladesh nationals have been rescued after being abducted and shipped to Thailand to be sold as ‘slaves’.
Director General (America and Europe) Muhammad Mahfuzur Rahman, DG Director General (South Asia wing) Tareq M Ariful Islam and DG (External Publicity Wing) Noor-E Helal Saifur Rahman were, among others, present at the media briefing on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’ s participation in the 10th ASEM Summit.
