Migrant workers centre to be set up in Dhaka but registration fee is extortion

Bangladesh is one of the major labour-supplying countries of the world. Each year a large number of people voluntarily migrate overseas for both long- and short- term employment. The remittance sent home by the migrant workers is one of the largest sources of foreign exchange earnings in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s migrant workers now have a second home in Dhaka during their travel to and from abroad. The government has taken an initiative to establish the first dedicated centre for migrant workers to ease their trouble and extend help and assistance to reduce the ongoing troubles while migrating abroad or returning home. “Bangabandhu Wage Earners Centre”, built in Khilket, will provide affordable accommodation to inbound and outbound workers along with necessary briefings on destination countries and various other services offered by the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB).
The centre will also support returning migrants on reintegration for socio-economic development. It will start providing full-fledged services after Ramzan. The initiative was taken marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, according to information available on the WEWB website. Sources at WEWB said workers from all over the country have to come to Dhaka a day or two prior to their scheduled departure. After landing in Dhaka, finding affordable overnight accommodation often comes with immense challenges. This centre will be a suitable place for these migrants. It takes only 20-25 minutes to reach the centre from Dhaka airport.
 According to the WEWB website, a migrant worker will need Tk 200 for an overnight stay there. To arrange the accommodation, the workers have to apply either in person or online paying Tk 100 in registration fees. They have to provide supporting documents such as passport, air ticket copy, copy of immigration clearance and relevant other documents. This dedicated centre will no doubt ease the hassles of many in pursuit of a better life abroad or returning back to their motherland.
For a corruption ridden government starting a new project however good it sounds it does not fulfil its promise. The government men get another opportunity for exploitation. If migrant workers have to pay for accommodation then there should be non-registration fee. We see it as extortion.