Trapped Bangladeshi workers in Libya relay tales of misery

[IBRIS]

Hundreds crammed into small houses unfed, unverified reports of deaths.

Dhaka, Feb 24 (UNB)- Hapless Bangladeshi migrant workers trapped in the turmoil sweeping through Libya have been passing their days half-fed or unfed for the last few days, in totally insecure and dreadful conditions.

These ill-fated workers, employed either by South Korean or Singaporean construction firms, are mostly crammed into small houses or camps in Tripoli, where the regime of Muammar Ghaddafi is still holding strong, as well as Benghazi, which has fallen to the protesters.

They are unable to reach the owners of the construction firms, who have abandoned them, unpaid and unfed.

The African mercenaries brought in by the regime have looted them of their money and phones, at several points in both the cities. Many were beaten and injured by the hoodlums.

“We’re Bangali…please save us. Please tell the government to do something for us,” a sobbing Masud Rana of Sakhipur, Tangail, told UNB over phone from Benghazi today.

Rana, who works for a Singaporean company said they have “no food, no water, no money”, and fear dying from starvation.

Relaying his shockingly sorry tale, Rana said he is one of 400-500 Bangladeshis living miserably in one small house for the last one week. This, supposedly is one of the

“We can’t go outside. If we are on street we will be shot down.”

Farhad, another worker from Tangail, said the group he is part of has been without food for the last three days. He also said they have heard that 35-37 Bangladeshis were killed.

Khorshed and Asadul, speaking to UNB from Tripoli, narrated the same stories of lawlessness and horror. One worker complained that despite repeated phone calls, the Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli has been non-responsive.

Another report indicates some 300 Bangladeshi workers are trapped living in inhuman conditions in the Alkhalid area of Tripoli. They work for the Korean Hyundai company.

The report said mercenaries attacked a Chinese company on Thursday morning and killed 37 workers, most of whom were Bangladeshis. However, UNB is still trying to independently verify this claim.

Official figures estimate there are some 65,000 Bangladeshi workers in Libya. The real figure is speculated to be over 100,000.
UNBconnect... - Trapped Bangladeshi workers in Libya relay tales of misery

 

[blackops]

they too can be taken out from our naval ships just like srilankans are being taken out

 

[IBRIS]

Did China sent anything to lend a helping hand to it's string of pearls neckless buddies. Ungrateful people will always forget our good deeds.

 

[LaBong]

Why the hell world powers not intervening and stop this mess!

 

[blackops]

Why the hell world powers not intervening and stop this mess!

they will usa passed some news a thread is also there for it

 

[tallboy123]

Did China sent anything to lend a helping hand to it's string of pearls neckless buddies. Ungrateful people will always forget our good deeds.

Well,we have sent ships to evacuate both Indians and Sri lankans....
Hope we evacuate bangladeshis too

 

[blackops]

Did China sent anything to lend a helping hand to it's string of pearls neckless buddies. Ungrateful people will always forget our good deeds.

well if they dont remember its there bad but we should do what we can

 

[StingRoy]

65,000-100,000 is quite a large figure and it will take several days to evacuate them all even if Indian ships are there to help. Hope someone in BD govt has plans to evacuate these workers.

 

[IBRIS]

Family members of Bangladeshi workers can meanwhile get more information from there gov't offices in Libya.
Mobile phone numbers: 01914-871118, 01552-368551 and 01819-262175. Fax: 7160688 and email addresses: js@probashi.gov.bd, js.emp@probashi.gov.bd and ahmkamal2020@yahoo.com

 

[IBRIS]

17 Bangladeshi hostages evacuated

Dhaka, Feb 24 (bdnews24.com) — Nearly half of the 300 foreigners held hostage by anti-government protestors in the Libyan city of Darnah have been shifted to Egypt border.

The hostages evacuated by the Libyan army on Wednesday night include 17 Bangladeshis, one of the rescued Bangladeshi hostages, Shafiuddin Biswas, told bdnews24.com over phone on Thursday morning.

"As many as 150 hostages were safely brought to the Egyptian frontier in two vehicles of the Libyan army," he said.

He, however, expressed ignorance about the fate of the remaining hostages. "Perhaps, they have also been handed over to their respective company authorities," Shafiuddin said.

Those shifted to the Egyptian border would be flown to Egypt by an Egyptian aircraft, he added.

The passports of all the evacuated persons had been kept with their respective company authorities, he added.

"The companies have assured us that they would hand over the passports before noon," Shafiuddin said.

Anti-government protesters had taken hostage about 300 foreigners, including over 100 Bangladeshis, in Darnah, east of Benghazi.

 

[IBRIS]

Govt still wants to wait, see

The government is still sitting on its policy of “wait and see” over evacuating stranded Bangladeshi guest workers in troubled Libya.

Security of foreigners there are at stake and thousands are waiting to return home amid political chaos in the North African country.

"We will evacuate them only if that sort of situation arises," Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said yesterday admitting that looting by Libyans and restriction on movement is causing serious problems for foreigners and international agencies even.

At a press conference at the ministry, he said it was very difficult to evacuate 20,000 to 30,000 Bangladeshis out of 60,000 when journalists refer to evacuations by Chinese, Thai, South Korean and even Indian governments.

Earlier, he had a meeting with officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, home, civil aviation, shipping, the Prime Minister's Office, international agencies--International Organisation for Migration (IOM), International Committee of the Red Cross and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Expatriates' Welfare Secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan told The Daily Star that the government is making a contingency plan for evacuation with planes and ships but that would be required if something like international armed operation starts in Libya.

"Not that all would like come home. Because, once they return they would not be able to go back to that country with jobs for which they already spent quite a good sum," Zafar said, adding that this is why the government is asking the employer companies to temporarily relocate them to safer places in or outside Libya.

The government is asking the international agencies to help relocate the stranded Bangladeshis and arrange food, he said.

A few companies have already agreed to bring home around 6,000 Bangladeshis, while 804 were moved to Greece by China State Construction and Engineering Corporation. Three hundred entered Tunisia and 2,450 crossed the Egyptian border where the IOM and Red Cross are taking care of them, he said.

Meanwhile, relatives of Bangladeshis in Libya are waiting for the government to send transports to bring them home since many of them were left by their employers in Libya, eastern part of which has fallen to the uprising.

However, Tripoli remains in the control of ruler of 41 years Col Gaddafi. UN refugee agency UNHCR says nearly 100,000 migrants have fled from Libya into neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt last week.

The UNHCR warned of a growing humanitarian crisis. Many guest workers have no way to get home and are sleeping out in the open, reports the BBC.

"I came to Libya with a dream, but will the life end here?" said Touhidul Islam sobbing and talking to The Daily Star Saturday from a Tripoli labour camp housing around 2,000 Bangladeshi workers.

The company Libyan Saraya said they could return home only if Bangladesh sent ships or planes for them, he said, adding that they cannot go out of the camp since there is no transport and there is risk of robbery.

Mabruka Toaha said her father Abu Zafar Mohammad Toaha who is working at Sirte Oil Company in Marshal Brega has been passing days in fear amid clashes and looting around him.

Indians left Libya on an Indian ship but 30 Bangladeshi engineers including Toaha remain there, Mabruka said urging the government to arrange their evacuation.

Around 2,500 Bangladeshis from Brega moved close to Egypt border but could not cross it, she said.

Meanwhile, more than 200 workers from Chapainawabganj, 16 workers from Pabna and 3,000 from Shariatpur are trapped in Libya, correspondents from the districts reported.

Mariam Begum of Chapainawabganj said her husband Aminul Islam and several others are running short on food and water.

"I am passing days in worry. I don't know when I will go back to Bangladesh. Pray for me,” Mariam quoted her husband as saying over telephone. He begged pardon from his wife in case he could not make it.

"Please save our son. Please tell the government to do something for our son,” said Hasem Ali whose son Israfil, 30, told him they have no food or water and fear dying of hunger.

Expatriates' welfare minister Mosharraf Hossain said normalcy is returning in Benghazi and the situation in Saba province, where around 15,000 Bangladeshis work, is normal.

However, in Tripoli there has been violence, he said, adding that the Bangladesh nationals who are in small groups are being advised to join bigger groups in camps because staying together in big numbers is strength.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni is flying for Geneva today to seek help of the ICRC and the IOM in relocating the stranded Bangladeshis.

Two teams yesterday were dispatched to Egypt and Tunisia to help stranded guest workers with travel documents required to enter those countries, Mosharraf said.

Human rights body Ain O Salish Kendra yesterday expressed deep concern over the state of Bangladeshis in Libya. It urged the government to take prompt action to ensure their safety and to bring them home.

 

[integra]

Did China sent anything to lend a helping hand to it's string of pearls neckless buddies. Ungrateful people will always forget our good deeds.

China helped us to transfer 800 workers. More help is on the way. About the last sentence, well if the sole purpose of helping someone is to get thanks than keep on cheerleading we ain't buying that.

 

[IBRIS]

China helped us to transfer 800 workers. More help is on the way. About the last sentence, well if the sole purpose of helping someone is to get thanks than keep on cheerleading we ain't buying that.

Where is the Link, wise man.

 

[Gonjo]

Still needs clear steps to evacuate approx 60,000 Bangladeshi from Lybia. Govt should clearly tell us, how they are going to do that.

 

[wangers]

Chinese co taking 804 Bangladeshis to Greece

Where is the Link, wise man.