Female domestic workers from Bangladesh, who went to work in many countries of the Middle East, such as, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, faced with various physical and psychological tortures and abuses. Many are returning home with the help of government or human rights organizations in a wretched and severely ill condition barely saving their lives. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses grave concern in this regard, and vehemently demands the safe migration for women be ensured by the State.<\/p>\n
According to media reports, Bangladeshi female domestic workers are returning home after being tortured and abused in many Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia. Many are appealing or lodging application personally or by families and relatives to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and many other human rights organizations for their safe return in the country. All of these female workers have described similar experiences. Not being paid their wages, being sexually abused by male members of the house, physically and mentally tortured and abused by both male and female heads of the family, taking away their cell phones, not allowing to communicate with their family, no fixed hours for work, lack of provision for leave etc., were some of the allegations against their employers. Moreover, the employer files cases of stealing and vandalism if the domestic worker escapes after being tortured; she have to return back to her employer if she takes refuge in any police station after being tortured by her employer, she does not get any medical treatment if she falls sick; on being severely ill, she may either be thrown on the road or in front of Bangladesh Embassy; and along with being sold like a slave from one agency to another without informing the Embassy, there have been several allegations against their employers through which they have become the victims of several types of brutalities. At least 22 Bangladeshi female workers gave their lives in Saudi Arabia enduring various forms of physical torture including rape. From May 2015 to May 2018, nearly one thousand five hundred female workers have been sent back home from safe houses located in Jeddah and Riyadh of Saudi Arabia. Most of the returnee women have lost their ability to work due to the physical abuse and torture. Besides, they have also been defamed in the society and in family. They are living a very uncertain life both socially and economically.<\/p>\n
ASK is of the opinion that, state has certain responsibilities towards these women who have went to work abroad with the hope of emancipation from poverty and following all the government rules and procedures. There is no scope for the government to escape this recent shocking scenario of torture and abuse of Bangladeshi maids. It is absolutely essential to ensure safe migration for these women. Those recruiting agencies who are responsible in driving these women towards unsafe and risky migration process, need to be identified and their registration be revoked. It is a timely demand that they should be brought under strict application of law. Otherwise, women\u2019s participation in this very important labour migration sector would become uncertain and unreliable. ASK strongly demands that the state immediately undertakes diplomatic measures to address these issues and makes arrangements for medical treatment for the women who were tortured and abused, as well as make preparations for their rehabilitation and reintegration in the society.<\/p>\n