Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladeshi citizens working in Saudi Arabia are reluctant to lodge complaint with the authorities concerned there.
“Workers, specially the women who always make allegation about torture and sexual assault don’t go to lodge complaint in the specific center there,” the Minister said.
He said that when the victims return, they start blaming their employers, saying they were being tortured and sexually abused in many ways there.
The Foreign Minister made these remarks at a media briefing at the foreign ministry on Thursday.
Momen said that 99 percent of the women who work in Saudi Arabia feel comfortable and are sending remittances to the country.
“Almost six lakh women workers from Bangladesh work abroad. Among them, 2.5 lakh live in Saudi Arabia. Most of the allegations come from Saudi Arabia” he said.
Dr Momen said, “The government has taken multiple initiatives in the context of torture of Bangladeshi women abroad. We built shelters in those places. They were brought to the shelters when they were tortured. It is open to them.”
“We recently created a 24-hour hotline. So that they can report or discuss any problems,” he informed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to attend the ‘Dubai Airshow 2019’ and witness the signing of a number of bilateral deals during her upcoming visit in November 16 to 19 to United Arab Emirates at the invitation of the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed al Maktoum, the Minister mentioned.
Momen said Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates are expected to sign three instruments during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Dubai visit to inaugurate NID registration programme for Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs).
“Two bilateral cooperation documents and a protocol will be signed during the visit,” he told a crowed media. Apart from Ruler of Dubai, Momen said Sheikh Hasina will also hold meeting with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and UAE’s Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation Sheikh Fatima Bint Mubarak.
The three instruments, expected to be signed between the two countries, are bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Emirates Development Authority, between Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority and Emirates Economic Zone Authority and protocol on Allotment of Land Plot for Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
“The Hon’ble Prime Minister will inaugurate NID registration programme of the nonresident Bangladeshi living in the UAE at the Embassy of Abu Dhabi,” Momen said.
The registration facility is expected to benefit the Bangladesh expatriates living in UAE for whom it is difficult to come to Bangladesh for registration purpose which involve expenditure and time.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is also expected to meet with big UAE investor groups and business people of the UAE, Momen said adding that the foreign minister said the UAE has already showed interest to develop sea port and related infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Besides, he said the Emirates Economic would like to invest in waste management sector and create a hub in Bangladesh Economic Zone for international exports of Halal products to the gulf countries.
“It is expected that the visit will have positive impact on UAE investment to Bangladesh in different sectors and will help in enhancing cooperation between the investment authorities,” Momen said.
The foreign minister also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also visit Kolkata on November 22 to watch the first day of Bangladesh-India Test match. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be treated as a State Guest there as she is going there at an invitation letter from her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, he added.
