Iftekhar apprises Kuwaiti DPM of Bangladeshi workers' plight

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury met Wednesday Kuwait's deputy prime minister and apprised him of the plight of Bangladeshi workers in his country, reports bdnews24.com. brDPM Sheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah assured Iftekhar the Kuwaiti government would take stern measures against companies exploiting foreign workers. brThe foreign adviser is scheduled to meet Kuwaiti prime minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Sabah Al- Salem Al Sabah today (Thursday). br'We have addressed problems faced by some Bangladeshi workers with a view to resolving them,' Iftekhar told the news agency by telephone from Kuwait City following his meeting with the deputy prime minister. brSheikh Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah assured me that the Kuwaiti authorities will take stern action against any companies that have exploited Bangladeshi workers. brHe remarked that non-payment of the agreed salaries was unacceptable. brThe adviser said he also discussed the possibility of Kuwait co-financing the Padma Bridge, a project in which the DPM showed keen interest. brSheikh Sabah also recalled the contribution of Bangladesh during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990, said Iftekhar. brThe adviser left Dhaka Wednesday morning by a Kuwait Airlines flight. brIftekhar is also scheduled to meet Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait to urge them to abide by the laws of the host country. brThousands of South Asian workers, including Bangladeshis, took to streets in Kuwait in July last demanding pay hikes and better working conditions. brAccording to the government figures, the Kuwaiti government deported some 1,250 Bangladeshi workers for the demonstration. brDemonstrations and work abstention are prohibited in the Gulf state. brThe foreign adviser, following the labour unrest, had telephoned three Kuwait ministers and sought their assistance in resolving the problems. brThe Kuwait ministers invited him to visit the Sheikhdom to discuss labour and other bilateral issues.br