Bangladesh

Press Conference and submission of Memorandum to the Honorable Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh


In response to the current ban imposing on Bangladeshi Migrant Workers by the government of Bahrain, a joint Press Conference followed by submission a Memorandum to the Honorable Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh is held on 2nd June 2008.

The conference is organized by six organizations working on migration in Bangladesh namely WARBE Development Foundation, OKUP, Bangladesh Migrant Welfare Organization, International Migrants Foundation, Mutual Welfare Society and Ovibashi Karmi Kallan Association, Sirajgonj.

The conference is chaired by Mr. Syed Saiful Haque, Chairman, WARBE Development Foundation. The Key Note Paper on the Isuue is presented by Mr. Shakirul Islam, Chairman, Ovebashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP). The petition jointly developed by Migration Forum Asia and Bahrain Center for Human Rights is also read out in the Conference to highlight the move and solidarity across the world in response to the issue. A panel discussion is taken place followed by question-answer in participation of the representatives from the organizations and the attended journalists.

The press conference appealed to the government of Bahrain to reconsider the decision of ban imposed on the Bangladeshi migrant workers due to the alleged murder of a Bahrain national by a Bangladeshi. Moreover, the conference demanded to ensure a fair and impartial trail for the alleged person so that he could get enough room to defend himself. The conference called upon the government of Bangladesh for its prompt initiative and good diplomacy for a successful settle down the issue.

A number of print media including Prominent National English daily "The Daily Star" covered the conference in due respect. The daily mentioned that the Bahrain government has already moved a bit from its hard stand. It said that the Bangladeshi migrant workers who are already onsite would not be sent back anymore. The visa for the new applicant would be a temporary halt in this regard that the daily said.
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