Man returned empty-handed from KSA

Reza Mahmud :
Russel Fakir, son of Khowaj Fakir from the Ataikula village of Pabna district returned empty-handed from Saudi Arabia.
His father gave Tk 3.5 lakh to local manpower recruiting agent Solaiman for sending him to KSA with work permit visa.
Solaiman assured Russel of getting a job with wage of Saudi Riyal 1200 per month.
But, after reaching Saudi Arabia, Russel did not to get any job.
He could understand that the recruiting agent deceived him with fake documents and papers.
As a result, law enforcers detained him and he served jail terms there.
Finally he returned home empty-handed while his family was passing in hardship with
huge debt which his father had taken for sending him abroad.
Khowaj Fakir, a kidney patient of the Charpara village of Ataikula has become seriously shocked as his son returned home without bringing any money.
“I am a very poor man, how can I bear the loss? My son has become an extra burden instead of an wage earner,” said Khowaj Fakir.
He said local agent Solaiman cheated and now is avoiding to meet him.
“Whenever I went to his (Solaiman’s) house, he used to avoid me. His family members repeatedly say that he is not staying home. I have become tired of it,” said Khowaj Fakir.
Local residents Imran Hossain, Sadek Ali and others said that they knew that Solaiman had taken Tk 3.5 lakh from Khowaj Fakir for sending his son Russel to Saudi Arabia, he cheated him with fake documents.
Russel got no job there and served jail for carrying fake documents which was provided by Solaiman.
They said administration should punish Solaiman and realise reparation for Khowaj fakir family.
When tried to contact with the agent Solaiman of nearby Kazipur village, his cell phone got switched off.
Contacted, his wife told that her husband is now staying in Dhaka.
His wife said also that her husband sent many people to Saudi Arabia but currently recruiting in the country is stopped so that he cannot send people now.
She refused that her husband cheated people sending them with fake work permit.
Contacted, Jalal Uddin, Officer-in-Charge of Ataikula police station said he has heard such an allegation, but nobody yet filed any case.
“If any written allegation could be found, the police will take legal action,” the OC said.
 When contacted, Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman told The New Nation, “People should be aware about local agents. Who have not any legal identity card (ID) of any licensed recruiting agency must be avoided.”
He said licensed manpower recruiting agents is supposed to open offices in district townships and recruit agents with identity cards (ID).