35 Bangladeshis back from Russia

Thirty-five Bangladeshi migrant workers returned home from Russia on Sunday after losing their jobs, alleging they were cheated by recruiting agencies in the name of overseas employment.

The workers landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:45pm on a Qatar Airways flight (QR-638). With support from the Expatriate Welfare Desk and Civil Aviation Security, they were provided transport and emergency assistance, said Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC.

The returnees, including Mashiur Rahman of Gaibandha, Asmat Ali of Manikganj, Haiyul Mia of Mymensingh, Azadul Haque of Sirajganj, Prosenjit Rajbanshi of Dhaka and Md Abdullah of Chapainawabganj, said they were deceived by recruiters. Each worker spent an average of Tk 7 lakh to secure the job.

According to the workers, the recruiting company abruptly terminated their employment and repatriated them without providing any explanation.