Desk Report: The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has placed a seven-point demand before the government, calling for stronger protection of migrant workers, an end to recruitment syndicates in Malaysia, strict scrutiny of employment opportunities in Russia and removal of bureaucratic complications faced by Bangladeshi workers seeking legal jobs in Europe.

The party also demanded expansion of European visa services in Bangladesh, effective legal assistance for exploited expatriate workers and the introduction of a coordinated digital platform to address their grievances.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju and its Expatriates` Welfare Affairs Secretary Raja Golam Rabbani presented the demands at a press briefing at the party`s central office in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, on Monday.

Addressing the briefing, Manju said expatriate Bangladeshis could not be treated merely as remittance-generating machines, as they were citizens and important stakeholders in the national economy.

"A significant part of our economy stands on their labour, sweat and sacrifices. Yet, they face fraud, mounting debts, harassment and uncertainty when seeking employment abroad," he said.

He observed that although the country`s economy heavily depended on remittances, the state had significant shortcomings in protecting the rights and security of migrant workers.

Their welfare, he said, should not be measured merely by the amount of money they send home. The government must ensure safe migration, fair employment, legal protection and a dignified life for them.

"Migrant workers are not commodities; they are citizens of Bangladesh. Protecting their rights and dignity is the responsibility of the state," Manju said, pledging that his party would stand beside expatriates in their struggle for justice and protection.

Manju also raised questions about the government`s position on dissenting notes submitted against various decisions of the interim government.

He said the BNP had formulated its 31-point programme considering different challenges and realities. However, following the people`s verdict in the referendum, the dissenting notes submitted against certain decisions of the interim government had lost their political basis, he argued.

Referring to the appointment of the former security adviser as foreign minister and the leasing of Chattogram Port to DP World, Manju questioned why there was such reluctance to respect the referendum verdict.

Presenting the party`s principal demands, Raja Golam Rabbani said expatriate workers were among the main driving forces of Bangladesh`s economy, supporting millions of families through their hard-earned remittances.

Yet, he said, excessive migration costs, middlemen, fraud and administrative complications continued to make overseas employment difficult.

Many workers sell their land or take out loans to go abroad but eventually fail to secure the promised jobs, salaries and benefits, he added.

Highlighting irregularities in the Malaysian labour market, Rabbani said reports had revealed that the migration cost for a Bangladeshi worker during 2022-2024 was around Tk 500,000 to Tk 600,000 or even higher, against an officially fixed cost of approximately Tk 79,000.

"Why should an ordinary worker have to shoulder such an enormous debt simply to go abroad?" he questioned.

He said reopening the Malaysian labour market must not create opportunities for a syndicate of a limited number of recruiting agencies. All eligible and licensed agencies should receive equal opportunities, while recruitment costs must be fully transparent.

Regarding employment opportunities in Russia, Rabbani called for comprehensive verification of job offers, employers, employment contracts, visa categories, job descriptions and salaries before workers were sent abroad.

He referred to an investigative report by the Associated Press (AP), which raised allegations that Bangladeshi nationals had been taken to Russia with promises of civilian employment but subsequently involved in military-related activities.

Describing the allegations as deeply concerning, he said no worker should be engaged in military activities without their consent.

However, the AB Party was not opposed to legitimate and safe civilian employment opportunities in Russia, he clarified.

The party also expressed concern over allegations of harassment and delays in obtaining clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), even after Bangladeshi workers secured valid European visas and employment contracts.

Rabbani said workers obtaining legitimate employment opportunities in Serbia, North Macedonia, Moldova and other European countries should not be held up by unnecessary administrative complications.

He demanded publication of country-specific clearance requirements and necessary documents, fixed deadlines for processing applications and written explanations whenever clearance was rejected.

He also called for diplomatic initiatives to expand European visa application, biometric, interview and passport-return services in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi applicants often have to travel to India for European visa-related services, causing additional expenses, delays and travel-related risks, he noted.

Rabbani further highlighted passport-related problems faced by expatriates due to discrepancies in their dates of birth recorded in birth registration documents and national identity cards.

He demanded special arrangements allowing eligible expatriates to obtain e-passports based on their previous valid digital passport records and validity periods.

He also called for faster processing of applications for corrections to birth registration documents and NIDs.

The AB Party`s seven-point demands include ending recruitment syndicates and excessive migration costs in Malaysia and other labour markets; ensuring transparent recruitment expenses and stopping illegal collections; verifying employers, employment contracts and job descriptions in high-risk labour markets, including Russia; providing timely and transparent BMET clearance for workers with valid European jobs and visas; expanding European visa and biometric services in Bangladesh; ensuring prompt legal assistance and effective repatriation for workers facing fraud, unpaid wages, passport confiscation and human trafficking; and introducing an integrated digital platform for receiving and resolving expatriates` complaints.

AB Party Senior Vice-Chairman Professor Dr Wahab Minar said ensuring the rights and dignity of expatriate Bangladeshis was not merely an economic concern but also a constitutional and moral responsibility of the state.

He urged the government to take immediate and effective measures to establish safe migration, fair employment and accountability in dealing with expatriate workers.

Among others, the briefing was attended by Joint General Secretary Barrister Abbas Islam Khan Noman, Dhaka North Metropolitan Convener Selim Khan, Organising Secretary (Barishal) Gazi Nasir, Employment Affairs Secretary Shafiul Bashar, Assistant Organising Secretary (Dhaka) Shahjahan Bepari, Dhaka South Metropolitan Member Secretary Barkaz Nasir Ahmed and other central and metropolitan leaders of the party.