Workers who were unable to travel to Malaysia despite paying the required fees staged a sit-in protest. They claimed that they did not receive refunds from the recruiting agents. As a result, they had taken up positions in the Karwan Bazar area of the capital, demanding their money back along with other claims.
The protest began at 9:00 am on Wednesday.
The aspirant workers were unable to travel to the Southeast Asian country despite submitting money and collecting visa due to end of deadline in May last year.
They claimed that approximately 18,000 workers, who made no mistake in submitting the required funds, have received only assurances about migrating to Malaysia. However, there have been no visible initiatives from the government to either facilitate their migration or compel the recruiting agencies to refund their money.
"Complaints have gone unresolved, leaving us no choice but to continue our protest until our demands are fulfilled," said Nur Mohammad from Fatullah, Narayanganj.
He said that he paid Tk5.10 lakh to a recruiting agency but has neither been able to go to Malaysia nor received a refund, despite repeated assurances.
Billal Hossain, an aspirant from Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj, said, "Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim assured during his Dhaka visit that 18,000 workers would be taken to Malaysia. What is the update on that assurance? Has the government made any effort to send us?"
Later, after 11 a.m., when scuffles broke out between the protesters and the police, they were forced to retreat.
Source: The Daily Sun
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