FBCCI concern over deportation of B'desh workers

---

The country's apex trade body Sunday expressed deep concern over the deportation of Bangladeshi workers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) apprehended that the deportation of workers might affect the inflow of inward remittances casting a negative impact on the country's economy.

"We have written to the secretary of the ministry of foreign affairs on May 8 after the vice president of FBCCI narrated the sufferings of Bangladeshi workers returning from Kuwait," Annisul Huq, president of the apex trade body was quoted as saying in a press statement.

He added: "We apprehend that similar untoward incidents might take place in Malaysia and other countries in future unless steps are mooted from now on to protect the interest of workers there."

The FBCCI urged the government to take immediate steps to resolve the problems of workers in overseas countries including Middle East, which is the key source of remittances.

In the just concluded fiscal year, Bangladesh received over $7.0 billion in foreign remittances. Of the total inflow, around $5.0 billion came from eight Middle Eastern countries including Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Regarding deportation from Saudi Arabia on the ground of workers' overstaying, the apex trade body said there should have been an investigation to find out whether any recruiting agency was responsible or not.

If found guilty, such recruiting agencies should be punished, it added.