IOM's Message to Repatriate Bangladeshis from Jungles of Bosnia

The government has been asked by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to bring back Bangladeshis stranded in Bosnian jungles to enter European countries such as Italy or France.

Several international media outlets, including Deutsche Welle, have recently reported on the plight of Bangladeshis living in the jungle. Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Welfare confirmed the matter to Deutsche Welle

According to a source in charge of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare, after the news of Deutsche Welle was published in the last few days, the IOM's Bangladesh office contacted the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare on Tuesday and requested to bring them back. However, the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare has not yet taken any decision in this regard "The government can't bring them back if it wants to. Also, those who are stuck want to come back. ''We are not sure about that either. As a result, the decision will be taken in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," a senior official told Deutsche Welle on condition of anonymity.

"First of all, they are Bangladeshi nationals," Professor CR Abrar, an immigration and refugee specialist, told Deutsche Welle. The government must take initiative to bring them back But there are also many complications What will be the process? Who will pay for this return? The government may bring back those who went there illegally, but they will have to pay for the expenses once they return home. One would also think that if the government starts bringing back those who are going abroad illegally, then illegal immigration is being encouraged. As a result, the government has to find a way Because those who are there are citizens of Bangladesh, you can't deny that. "

It is known that many people have chosen the new route to enter Italy illegally, Bosnia, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia. The group is sending people from Croatia across the Adriatic Sea to Italy. The number of Bangladeshis going to Italy on this new route has increased five times in the last three years In the last nine months, 2,553 Bangladeshis have reached Bosnia They have registered their names there Their final destination is Italy IOM officials say immigrants have to come to Bosnia to register, whether legal or illegal. The number of Bangladeshis registered in the last three years is about 13,006

"There is a process of repatriation," Shariful Hassan, head of BRAC's immigration department, told Deutsche Welle. The government is bringing back many illegal immigrants How many people will bring it like this? I would request the government to consider the issue of Bangladeshis trapped in the jungles of Bosnia humanely Even if the government wants to bring it back, they do not want to come When the initiative is taken to bring them back, it is seen that they are fleeing from there and going somewhere else As a result, those who have gone there have gone knowingly They have spent from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 16 lakh What will they do now back in the country? For this reason, the government as well as every family needs to be aware to discourage illegal immigration Even if you take action against the brokers, you will see that many people are going abroad illegally at the risk of their lives. That fact must be taken into account. "

Shamsul Alam, director-general of the Bangladesh Manpower Export Bureau, told Deutsche Welle: "The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare has not yet told us anything about those trapped in the jungles of Bosnia. If the IOM requests, the ministry will definitely discuss with us We will be able to talk about it then. "When contacted, the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Welfare or any official in charge did not agree to speak directly on the return of those trapped in the Bosnian jungle.

Source: DW Bangla