Debt-ridden BD worker dies in Maldives

A Bangladeshi migrant worker has died in the Maldives less than a year after travelling there in the hope of repaying debts his family had taken on to send him abroad.

The deceased was identified as Sharif Hossain, 42, from Gobindapur Union in Faridganj Upazila of Chandpur.

The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives confirmed Sharif’s death on Tuesday night local time.

His co-workers said Sharif suddenly collapsed while walking along a road in Hulhumalé, near the capital Malé.

Passersby took him to a nearby hospital, where a doctor pronounced him dead. Sharif’s wife, Habiba Akter, said the family had borrowed money from several people to finance his journey abroad and had expected him to repay the loans from his earnings.

“We borrowed money and took loans from many people to send him abroad. He had promised that once he started working, he would gradually repay all the debts. But everything came to an end just 11 months later. Now we are completely helpless,” she said.

The High Commission said it was in contact with local authorities over the repatriation of Sharif’s body.

Arrangements were being made to send the body to his family after the necessary administrative and legal procedures were completed.�"bdnews24