Family members of the Bangladeshis, cheated by a local fraudulent manpower recruiter, have sought the Prime Minister's intervention for immediate repatriation of their near and dear ones from Iraq.
They placed the demand at a press conference at the National Press Club on Wednesday.
At the press meet the families of the Bangladeshis, stranded in Iraq for the last eight months, described the sufferings of their relatives, and demanded their immediate return from there.
They said some 180 job-seekers were recruited by Carrier Overseas Consultant United in Dhaka in May with clearance from Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).
The recruiter assured some of them of providing jobs in Qatar and some in Iraq with high salary. But it sent all of them to Iraq without any job.
Since then the workers have been suffering miserably in Najaf without food, water and other amenities, the families alleged.
They said they have submitted appeals to the authorities concerned, including expatriates' welfare ministry, foreign ministry, and Bangladesh Embassy in Iraq. But they are yet to get back their near and dear ones.
Jabed Ahmed, brother of Mohammad Siddique, a stranded job-seeker, said his brother is yet to get any job, and has no hope left for getting job in future.
"Now we have only one demand - to bring back our family members."
He said 10 or 15 days ago his bother phoned him and said they are in a miserable condition. They are not being served food properly and even cannot sleep.
Mamata Mandal, wife of Dasharath Mandal, who hails from Nababganj in Dhaka, said her husband gave Tk 350,000 to a middleman for going to Iraq. But now he is confined there.
She urged the authorities concerned to take necessary steps, so that her husband can return home as early as possible.
Dr Shahdeen Malik, who was present at the press meet, requested the Prime Minister to take initiatives to bring back the stranded Bangladeshis from Iraq before the upcoming Victory Day.
He said the families requested all the authorities concerned, but did not get any help. So is there no justice in the country?
"We have no option left, except seeking the Prime Minister's intervention to get solution for the migrants," he added.
Choudhury Abrar, executive director of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), said it is very unfortunate that despite going through formal channel the job-seekers are suffering a lot like illegal workers.
President of Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh (CCHRB) AHM Noman also expressed his solidarity with the migrants' family members.
Rights Jessore, a non-governmental organisation, and Shikkha Shastha Unnayan Karzakram (SHISUK) jointly organised the press conference on behalf of the victims' family members.
Binoy Krishna Mallick, executive director of Rights Jessore, among others, was present on the occasion.
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