BD victims of trafficking languish in Algeria amid virus fear

FT ONLINE

A group of Bangladeshi human trafficking victims are living in a vulnerable condition in Algeria as they have no required supports to stay safe in the coronavirus-hit North African country, workers and their families said.

A section of manpower recruiters sent the workers to Algeria and promised to manage jobs for them in European countries in early 2019.

They sent at least 56 workers from different districts including Munshiganj, Madaripur, Bogura and Dinajpur.

Two of the workers died in two separate accidents (one worker had died after he fell off from an under-construction building while another drowned in the sea on the way to Spain).

Nine workers could manage to return home. Four are staying in Morocco as recruiters promised to send them to Spain. The rest of them are staying at different places of Algeria as they escaped from their workplace because of maltreatment by their employer, workers said.

SK Sumon, one of the victim said he and his four colleagues stayed in a camp in the last 20 days due to lockdown, announced by the Algerian government.

Sumon who hails from Munshiganj district, said he maintained his expenses through some temporary work in Algeria. After starting restriction on movement, he remains jobless. So, he is passing through a hard time.

"Even I cannot buy necessary foods," he said adding that there is no hope to overcome this situation soon.

About 60 workers are residing in the camp. If any worker is infected with coronavirus, then all will be in trouble, he expressed said.

He sought immediate assistance from Bangladesh Embassy in Algeria to bring them back home.

Tahmina Aktar , wife of SK Sumon told the correspondent that she is just helpless as she has no money to maintain her family at home.

Moreover, money lender is giving pressure to pay monthly installment. Her husband borrowed Tk 250,000 to meet recruitment charge. She pays Tk 25000 as monthly installment.

Because of restriction on movement in her village following coronavirus outbreak, she cannot go out from home to do something.

In this situation, if she gets compensation money from the recruiting agency, then she can survive with her child, she said.

On the other hand, migrant rights activists urged the authorities concerned to extend all necessary supports to the Bangladeshi workers, staying abroad now.

It should be ensured that both documented and undocumented workers get essential treatment, food and other cooperation.