Bonny Mascarenhas
\nStaff Reporter<\/p>\n
The Bangladeshi community has expressed delight over the lifting of a ban on the issuance of work visas for compatriots but stressed that programmes should be organised to educate workers on Bahrain\u2019s laws and rules to avoid such a ban in future.The ban was enforced on May 27 after a 38-year-old Bahraini, Mohammed Jassim Dossary, was killed by a Bangladeshi mechanic with a grinder. The Tribune first reported on Monday that the authorities had decided to lift the ban.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am glad the ban has been withdrawn but I think that instead of celebrating, my community should begin awareness programmes to ensure that no such ban is imposed in future,\u201d Mohammed Ghulam Rabbani told the Tribune yesterday.<\/p>\n
Rabbani, who works as an authorised consultant at Nexus Financial Services said the embassy, clubs, associations and professional Bangladeshis should make concerted efforts in this regard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey should set up a programme to provide counselling for workers, explain the laws of the country and legal options available to them to settle grievances.<\/p>\n
We have to collectively ensure that there will not be another incident to tarnish our image,\u201d Rabbani said, referring to Dossary\u2019s killing.<\/p>\n
Dr. Abir Chowdhury of Shifa Al Jazeera Clinic concurred with Rabbani. But he said Dhaka should draw up a scheme to educate the workers before they left to work in foreign lands.<\/p>\n
\u201cA pre-departure course should be organised or men and they should be provided with contact numbers of the embassy or consulate in the country concerned,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The responsibility of making labourers aware of the laws of the host country should be shouldered by educated Bangladeshis in that country.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor instance, I come across Bangladeshi workers everyday. I always ask about their living condition and welfare even before I check them for their sickness,\u201d Dr. Chowdhury said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes them feel good. Sometimes a worker is mentally disturbed for reasons that could be solved easily \u2013 like opening a bank account. He may find it difficult because he does not understand the rules. A little help in filling forms or an explanation of the process by an educated person will make things easy for the worker.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charge d\u2019Affaires Saiful Islam agreed. \u201cThey are right. With proper coordination between the community members, a reason to enforce a ban again can be avoided.\u201d<\/p>\n
Islam said he had spoken to people who had shown interest in the idea. The group is expected to meet by the month-end to discuss and draft a strategy to disseminate information and aid to the workers in labour camps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bonny Mascarenhas Staff Reporter The Bangladeshi community has expressed delight over the lifting of a ban on the issuance of work visas for compatriots but stressed that programmes should be organised to educate workers on Bahrain\u2019s laws and rules to … Continue reading