Libya returnees get govt cash support

Arafat Ara Almost all the Libya returnees have received cash support under the government Emergency Repatriation and Livelihood Restoration of Migration Workers Project, said International Organisation for Migration (IOM) officials. A total of 35,915 Libya returnees have received compensation worth Tk 50,000 each under the government programme, said IOM spokesman Disha Sonata Faruque. Ms Faruque also mentioned that but 300 returnees are yet to collect their money due to non-availability of their job documents and some of them have again secured job abroad. "But we are giving all-out effort to disburse the cash support among the rest of returnees and we hope the people will get the money within no time," she said. Around 36,700 migrants have returned home after unrest in Libya, according to her. The government and IOM started cash grant disbursement among the migrant workers who returned from civil war-torn Libya at Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Technical Centre in the city's Mirpur area from July 23. With World Bank-provided credit support of $40 million under the project, the government has provided Tk 50,000 to each worker who returned home from Libya as immediate support. Abdul Kader, a Libya returnee, said it is very insufficient amount against their need as they borrowed large sums before going to the country. "I am passing a hard time because I am yet to earn any money here for my living," said Mr Kader adding the government should take all steps possible to send back the returnees within a short time. Disha Sonata said they are going to organise a meeting with government authorities this week where they will take a decision to rehabilitate the migrant workers. Earlier, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain announced the plan to send back the Libya returnees as soon as a new democratic government is installed in Libya. An estimated 7.6 million Bangladeshis are now working abroad and most of them are in the Middle East, Malaysia and Singapore. They send home over US$11 billion a year.