IT is disconcerting news indeed that as many as 150 Bangladeshi nationals have been passing days in uncertainty under harsh conditions in a detention camp at some remote area in Spain for the last ten months. These Bangladeshis were intercepted by the Spanish police when they were making attempts to enter the country without any valid travel documents. According to a media report, while most of them had travelled from Bangladesh, others from various Middle-Eastern countries joined them in a journey that included crossing the Sahara Desert. The report says that three unfortunate Bangladeshis died of sickness while crossing the desert. These Bangladeshis, allured by high salaried jobs, had embarked on the perilous journey with false travel documents given by some so-called travel agents in exchange of exorbitant sums. And like many of their predecessors the journey of these young men also ended in tragedy.

Another media report says that hundreds of Bangladeshi female workers are dodging the eyes of the police in Dubai where they are working as illegal workers. Among the seven to eight thousand Bangladeshi female workers in Dubai most have no valid work permit or residence visa and they would be arrested and sent to jail once the Dubai police will be able to trace their whereabouts.

The trend for travelling to foreign countries in search of jobs by desperate young men and women is increasing in the country and there is nothing wrong in that. But trouble begins when some of them fall into the traps of unscrupulous travel agents and end up in such pitiable conditions in unfriendly environments. These young people in their desperation fail to distinguish between legal and illegal documents before beginning the journey and when they get caught the Bangladesh embassies or consulate offices cannot act promptly to extend legal and other help since they fail to submit legal papers.

It is only natural that people from Bangladesh will travel to various overseas destinations in search of work, therefore, the relevant authorities should undertake programmes to create mass awareness in society so that young men and women do not walk into the traps of the crooked travel agents. The authorities concerned will have to take strict measures against the dishonest agencies and extend legal aid to the victims.