THE Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry has launched a probe into an incident in which people beat up a Bangladeshi manpower broker inside the Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei on August 21. In a statement, the Ministry said it decided to take necessary action following a proper investigation into the untoward incident. The decision comes after a video of the incident went viral and drew questions as to how someone could be beaten up inside the High Commission. It is pathetic that High Commission officials’ misconduct with the broker breaks laws and regulation, despite the prevailing legal system. The image of the High Commission has been blurred by the incident.
The video shows five to six people taking turns in punching, slapping, and kicking the man next to an official at his desk. According to some officials, there were a number of manpower brokers causing trouble in the labour market in Brunei, home to some 30,000 Bangladeshi migrants. These brokers, in connivance with a section of Brunei immigration officials, secure work visas and hire workers from Bangladesh. The migrants pay Tk 300,000 to Tk 700,000 to get over there with jobs. However, a large number of them find no job after reaching the country. Even if they find jobs, the brokers take a huge cut from their wages. Such irregularities have been going on for quite a long time.
It was known that a manpower broker was called following several allegations against him by victims on August 21 when the complainants were present. At one stage of the altercation, the complainants beat the broker up. Taking high unemployment in Bangladesh into an opportunity, many brokers allegedly allure youths to migrate. Being attracted promised salary and decent wage, many youths migrate to different countries selling their arable lands and homestead but ended in trap of no job, no salary and no life. Mainly brokers are responsible for such situation. It is the duty of the government to introduce smooth, comprehensive and well-planned migration policy as the economy mostly runs by their toil.
