First, recent troubles in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, where regulations were tightened against illegal entry, forced thousands of workers to return home, many of them without savings of any kind. Then came the public execution in Saudi Arabia of eight Bangladeshis for a murder they allegedly committed in 2007. Last week, 13 Bangladeshis were traced and arrested from restaurants and other workplaces for having entered the UK illegally. They faced immediate deportation, while heavy fines were slapped on the establishments employing them.

There are an estimated 6 million Bangladeshis working abroad these days. Their combined remittances account for whopping 12.5% of the GDP of Bangladesh, outlining the importance of their earnings to the national economy. It is common knowledge that when it comes to risk- taking and hard labour, non resident Bangladeshis have little international competition.

The anti-illegal immigrants crackdown in the UK, which was in the offing after the recent long riots in London and other cities, proved to be the last straw. Police and security officials are reported to have checked into Bangladeshi and Indian-owned restaurant and other establishments in London and other areas. They rounded up at least 13 people without valid travel or ID and would deport them soon. Fines up to 60,000 pounds were imposed on the errant establishments. Before beginning the night raids, security personnel sealed off all exits. More raids are likely to follow in the days ahead.

This came in the wake of widespread shock and revulsion in Bangladesh following the public beheading of eight citizens in Saudi Arabia, for the murder of an Egyptian man in 2007. Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka, told newsmen that authorities had made efforts to persuade the family of the victim to accept the offer of blood money from the accused. But the family refused and the Saudis had no choice but to go ahead with the executions. Bangladesh-based HR groups accused Dhaka of not trying to do enough to save the victims. The Egyptian was a guard at a factory which the eight accused had attacked in an attempt to steal some wires.

Bangladesh was working in close consultation to bring home thousands of stranded citizens from Libya and earlier from Egypt and Tunisia, in the wake of the recent political turmoil affecting the West Asia and North Africa region . From Libya alone, over 60,000 had been repatriated, thanks to the efforts made by Libyan and Bangladeshi authorities. Many more were stranded at the international borders of Libya, Chad, and other countries, as there were hardly any designated authority to arrange or oversee official efforts aimed at a systematic repatriation of stranded people. However, UN-based relief agencies, refugee-aid organisations and NGOs were trying to help. Many people, who had no documents and very little money, could not pay for their daily sustenance.

Bangladesh media reports suggest that between two to three lakh people may have returned home. However, despite their initial shock and disappointment over what has happened, most are expected to try to find some kind of work abroad again. But these developments definitely have contributed to a significant decline in the nation’s earnings in foreign exchange.(IPA)