Staff Reporter :
The challenge of irregular migration has once again surfaced as a major threat to country’s manpower sector, following the repatriation Bangladeshi nationals from different countries including USA, UK and Kyrgyzstan in recent times.
The incident underscores a persistent pattern in which Bangladeshi workers, lured by promises of lucrative jobs abroad, end up trapped in fraudulent schemes, often returning home with shattered dreams and heavy debts. A total of 180 Bangladeshis from Kyrgyzstan arrived in Dhaka early Wednesday morning on a special flight that landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Many of them had been misled by brokers and unscrupulous agencies who promised them high-paying jobs in Kyrgyzstan.
Instead, they found themselves either unemployed or underpaid, with expired or invalid documents, leaving them vulnerable to detention and deportation.
Shariful Hasan, Associate Director of BRAC Migration Program and Youth Platform, told reporters that the workers were deceived with false promises.
“They went to Kyrgyzstan expecting decent salaries. But many received no jobs or pay at all, which forced them into undocumented status. Some were tortured, others had to endure ransom demands from traffickers. Their families back home were pressured to send money for their release,” he said.
BRAC’s Migration Welfare Centre, which has been providing emergency assistance to returnees for the past eight years, extended immediate support to the repatriated group in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Civil Aviation Authority, and law enforcement agencies stationed at the airport.
BRAC noted that it has helped more than 35,000 migrants at the airport since 2017, with over 40 rescued from abusive conditions abroad in 2024 alone.
Experts said that Bangladeshi migrants have faced similar ordeals in countries such as Libya, the United Kingdom, and even the United States. These incidents highlight the global scale of trafficking and fraud networks preying on vulnerable workers from Bangladesh.
In Libya, hundreds of Bangladeshi workers have been intercepted by local authorities in recent years after attempting to cross into Europe through irregular channels.
Many ended up stranded in detention centers under dire conditions. Reports from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed that Bangladeshi nationals are among the top groups trafficked through Libya’s notorious migration routes. In some cases, families were forced to pay ransom money to secure their release from traffickers or militias.
On 29 August, the United Kingdom deported undocumented 15 Bangladeshi nationals for violating immigration laws.
The United Kingdom has also seen a rise in irregular Bangladeshi migration cases. British authorities have identified instances of Bangladeshis entering the country with fake documents or overstaying tourist visas.
In the United States, irregular migration from Bangladesh has taken a different but equally troubling form. Bangladeshi nationals, often from rural areas, have been found among groups attempting to cross the southern US border through Mexico.
On 5 September, the US government deported 30 Bangladeshis to Dhaka in shackles under strict security. It is said that the returnees were brought back in handcuffs and leg irons, sparking renewed criticism over the treatment of undocumented migrants.
Country’s overseas employment sector, one of the pillars of its economy, depends on the credibility of its labor migration system.
Remittances sent by migrant workers contribute more than $20 billion annually, providing a lifeline to the national economy. But irregular migration threatens to undermine this sector by tarnishing the country’s reputation as a source of disciplined and legal manpower.
Analysts warn that recurring incidents of fraud and trafficking could lead to stricter visa policies from host countries.
The government has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to combating irregular migration. On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Kyrgyzstan had agreed to repatriate the 180 nationals stranded in the Central Asian country.
However, observers argue that repatriation is not a solution in itself. Stronger monitoring of recruitment agencies, harsher punishments for fraudsters, and wider public awareness campaigns are needed to reduce the vulnerability of prospective migrants.
Meanwhile, Director for Migration and Asylum at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs Michael Shotter on Wednesday lauded Bangladesh’s proactive stance and collaborative efforts in combating irregular migration.
While meeting with the secretary (bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Md Nazrul Islam at his office, Michael Shotter made the remarks.
Nazrul Islam urged EU’s continued engagement with Bangladesh in fostering cooperation in the field of migration and mobility.
