Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait asked to resume work

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The Foreign Ministry Monday asked the agitating Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait to return to their respective workplaces, as diplomatic efforts continued to settle their problems, reports UNB.

Acting Foreign Secretary MAK Mahmud in a statement said officials of the Bangladeshi mission in Kuwait already had "fruitful" discussions with the Kuwaiti authorities concerned, who assured that matters relating to salary of the workers would be sorted out within two weeks.

"It is not expected to us that the image of Bangladesh is tarnished by creating any situation," Mahmud said, adding each expatriate Bangladeshi worker should be respectful of the laws of that country. He reiterated that "in no way it will be wise to violate the Kuwaiti laws" by Bangladeshi workers.

Mahmud said it would be difficult for the Bangladesh government to resolve the matter in case the Kuwaiti authorities take any action against the law-breakers. He noted that if the Kuwaiti government takes action against the law-breakers, individual persons would be responsible for that.

Meanwhile, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdullatif Ali Al-Mawash Monday discussed among other issues the demand for higher wages by some Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait.

During the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, Iftekhar thanked the Ambassador for the support the Kuwaiti government is extending to resolve the Bangladeshi labour issue.

The Foreign Adviser said, "Kuwait is a friendly and brotherly country, and Bangladesh and Kuwait have always stood by each other. We have no doubt that we will be able to successfully address all issues of mutual interest."

The Ambassador told reporters that they also discussed the possibility of a visit by the Foreign Adviser to Kuwait at an early date. He assured that he would bring the matter to the notice of his government and take initiatives to settle the problem.