Bodies of 14,798 expats returned home in 5 years

Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain Sunday said bodies of nearly 15,000 Bangladeshi workers were brought back home from various overseas destinations over the last five years.
Responding to a tabled question, raised by lawmaker Didarul Alam from Chittagong-4 constituency, the minister told the Jatiyo Sangsad (JS) that a total of 14,798 bodies of Bangladeshi workers have been brought back from January 1, 2009 to May 2014.
"Around Tk 1.42 billion has so far been paid to the families of 2,368 victims in the form of compensation."
He said 1,048 workers had died globally in various accidents in 2013.
The government filed cases seeking compensation in labour courts through Bangladesh embassies or high commissions in line with the laws concerned in host countries, he said.
About Tk 430 million was realised as reparation on behalf of 212 dead workers in 2013, and about Tk 219 million was handed over to their families, Mr Mosharraf said.  
Responding to a question from Pinu Khan, an MP from reserved women's seat, the minister said at present there are 16 wings dedicated to handle labour issues in Bangladesh missions abroad.
Twelve more wings have been opened recently, and the government is considering opening of another 11 wings in various missions, he said.
Eighty per cent of Bangladeshis working abroad are based in the Middle-East, the minister said while replying to another query from Abdul Latif of Chittagong-11 constituency.
Citing a statistics, he said around 9.0 million workers of various countries went to the Middle-East nations, with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) accounted for the largest portion of more than 2.6 million, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 2.3 million.