180 Bangladeshi migrant workers return from Kyrgyzstan

A total of 180 Bangladeshi nationals returned home from Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday after falling victim to human trafficking and employment fraud, according to officials from BRAC and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare.

The group arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a special flight from Bishkek in the early hours of the morning. They had travelled to Kyrgyzstan lured by promises of high-paying jobs in the garment and construction industries, only to be left jobless, undocumented, and vulnerable.

The repatriation was carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Civil Aviation Authority, and BRAC Migration Programme, which provided emergency financial and humanitarian support at the airport.

“These individuals were promised lucrative jobs abroad but found themselves in dire situations unpaid, undocumented, and in some cases, tortured,” said Shariful Hasan, Associate Director of BRAC’s Migration Programme.

Among the returnees was Md. Shahidul Islam, 45, from Lalmonirhat, who arrived in Bishkek on June 3 this year expecting a welding job. His visa expired the day after arrival. For seven months, he worked without pay and was eventually detained by Kyrgyz authorities. He returned home after serving a three-month jail term.

Another victim, Prince Mia, 21, from Shariatpur, said he paid Tk 4.8 lakh to traffickers who promised to send him to Europe via Dubai and Kyrgyzstan. He was instead detained in a Kyrgyz prison for 44 days.

Md. Milon Ali, 38, from Kushtia, suffered a workplace injury while working without a contract. After months without wages and no employer support, he turned himself in to the police and spent over three months in detention. He alleged that detainees were subjected to harsh treatment, including being forced to stand for hours under the sun.

BRAC says it has assisted over 35,000 returnee migrants at the airport over the past eight years through its Migration Welfare Centre. In 2024 alone, the organization helped rescue 40 Bangladeshi workers from various countries.

Activists and volunteers, including Al-Amin Noyon, recipient of the U.S. TIP Hero 2024 award, and Raihan Kabir, a returnee from Malaysia, have been actively involved in supporting repatriated migrants.

Officials warn that traffickers are increasingly targeting vulnerable job seekers with false promises of overseas employment, urging people to verify recruitment offers through official government channels before making any payments or travel arrangements.