Bahrain declares amnesty for BD nationals

Bahrain has declared a general amnesty for Bangladeshi migrants ‘illegally’ staying in the country. The Labour Councillor at Bangladesh consulate in Bahrain, Md Muhidul Islam, said the migrants could take the opportunity from July 1 to Dec 31. “It will be entirely free of cost,” he said. “Bahrain government has announced the general amnesty for six months. In the past, the illegal migrants had to pay a fine in such cases, but this time they will not,” he added. According to government estimates, there are 0.15 million Bangladeshis in Bahrain that has a total population of 1.3 million. Among the Bangladeshis, 40,000 were staying there without valid documents. He said Bangladeshis illegally staying in Bahrain had the option to return home. “Bahrain government will not blacklist them,” he said. “The embassy will provide those who lost their passports with out-pass. They can return home with the pass and come again (to Bahrain) using a new passport.” He said the migrants who had no legal documents but wanted to stay in Bahrain would be forgiven if they had no loan or criminal cases against them. The migrants should apply for work following general amnesty, he said, to get legalised. Islam advised all not to pay any money to agents or brokers for having the amnesty, according to a news agency.