Sarjis Alam alleges syndicate over Malaysia labour market

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam has alleged that a 25-member syndicate is operating in the name of recruiting Bangladeshi workers for Malaysia, with people close to the prime minister allegedly involved.

He also accused the government of delaying implementation of the new pay scale for government employees.

Speaking at a press conference at a hotel in Chattogram’s Station Road area on Monday, Sarjis said government employees could not manage for even 15 days on their current salaries and urged the government to implement the new pay scale from next month.

On the Malaysia labour market, he alleged that expatriate workers and their families were being harassed and that “another 25-member syndicate” had been formed in the name of employment opportunities in Malaysia.

“We are learning that the prime minister and some people close to him are directly involved in this syndicate,” he alleged.

Sarjis also criticised Chattogram’s preparedness for the monsoon, saying policymakers appear to forget the city’s problems once the rainy season ends. He alleged that the government was showing signs of returning to the character of the previous government only six months into its term.

He also criticised the city’s healthcare and transport systems, questioning why residents of Chattogram, the country’s commercial capital, still need to travel to Dhaka for basic medical treatment.

Sarjis further said the NCP did not want to see a party similar to the Jatiya Party, which he described as a “pet party” of the Awami League, in Bangladesh again.

He announced that the NCP would contest local government elections independently in the future and field its own candidates in every sector.

NCP Chattogram Metropolitan Convener Mir Mohammad Shoeb presided over the press conference.

Central Joint Conveners Sarwar Tushar and Ali Ahsan Junaid, Jatiya Jubo Shakti General Secretary Farhad Sohel, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti Convener Abu Bakar Majumder and Organising Secretary Rifat Rashid, and NCP Chattogram Divisional Organising Secretary ASM Suzauddin were also present.

SKS