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Cheated workers# continue sit-in at airport

Staff Correspondent
I he 30 deceived workers returned broke from Malaysia on Sunday continued their strike for the second consecutive day at the Zia International Airport yesterday.
"We will not leave until we receive compensation. We had repeatedly complained to the Manpow-er Bureau and Bangladesh High Commission about our sufferings overseas but they remained reluctant. We have decided not to cornplain anymore." said Abdul Hannan, one of die workers on strike. These workers are among the 53 who went to Malaysia through Tangail Overseas in May 2007. Their employers did not recruit them as per contract nor did they renew their work permit after taking money form them several times, said the workers.
The Malaysian police arrested them adding to their misery, as they became illegal aliens.
Spending Tk 2 to 2.5 lakh for jobs in Southeast Asian countries, these workers instead of sending money took more from home for survival and updating documents.
Three of these 53 workers returned earlier. 30 more on Sunday while 20 others are still waiting for money from home as their families are incapable of transferring fund to expedite their return, said Hannan.
“Each of us had to spend around Tk 3.20 lakh for going to Malaysia, survival there, work permits and so on. We demand compensation,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, officials from the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) went to the airport to visit them and asked to complain formally to the BMET for compensation.
Some leaders of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) also visited the scene and threatened them to cease the strike and leave the airport premises said Hannan.
, "We clearly said we will not leave until we are compensated," he toldThe Daily Star.
Meanwhile, Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) yesterday expressed concern over the human rights violation on the workers.
“When these workers were cheated, the role of the expatriates' welfare ministry was not adequate,” said a press release signed by ASK acting Executive Director Mohammad Noor Khan.
The government must hold the recruiting agencies concerned accountable to overcome such misery, it said, adding, “We demand that the government solves the problems immediately and makes sure that agencies compensate the returnees appropriately."