Verdict on Greece shooting incident

I was shocked to learn that a Greece court has acquitted the local farmers who shot 28 Bangladeshi strawberry pickers for raising demands for their overdue salaries! This not only shocked us, but it shocked the common people of Greece as well. The shooting incident took place in April last year and created headlines in newspapers and social media. The verdict to set free the perpetrators is appalling and we hope justice will be meted out in the higher court. Already politicians, unionists and anti-racial groups have expressed their disappointment at the verdict.

 Greece is an attractive destination for Bangladeshi youths and many people have changed their luck by dint of their hard work in Greece.  We also urge the international labour rights forum to intervene here. Many Bangladeshis are living and working in Greece without valid documents and unscrupulous employers are taking this opportunity and exploiting the poor workers.

Many Bangladeshis have been living in Greece in inhuman condition and the Amnesty International has already expressed its concern. The Bangladesh Embassy in Greece should provide necessary support to the migrant workers so that they do not feel helpless and be exploited.

Mohammad Sohel hara

Shahjadpur, Dhaka