Korea migration aspirants lay siege to Probashi Kallyan Bhaban, demanding BOESL MD’s resignation

Workers aspiring to migrate to South Korea from Bangladesh today (13 August) laid a siege to the Probashi Kallyan Bhaban in the capital with three demands, including the resignation of the managing director of the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd (BOESL).

Around 12pm, after holding a human chain, the protesting workers locked the entrance of the Probashi Kallyan Bhaban and took position on the road in front of the building. Shortly afterwards, they also closed the exit gate of the building.

During the demonstration, the protesters announced that the blockade programme would continue until their demands were met.

Noting that two entities – BOESL and HRD Korea – are involved in sending workers to South Korea under the EPS (employment permit system) programme, the protesters demanded some reforms in the EPS system.

The EPS is a temporary labour migration programme designed for low-skilled workers from 16 countries that have signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea.

The protesters alleged that due to the negligence and incompetence of BOESL officials, more circulars were issued than the actual demand, which led to the deletion of thousands of previously rostered candidates, with more at risk of being deleted in the future. 

Currently, around 21,000 visa-aspiring individuals who have passed and are on the roster have been waiting to migrate under the two-year roster system, they said.

They demanded that MD of BOESL Mallik Anwar Hossain, along with Executive Director Md Shawkat Ali, General Manager (Foreign Recruitment) ABM Abdul Halim, all managers of Foreign Recruitment Branches 1 and 2, Assistant General Manager (IT) Md Nurul Islam (Kiron), and all officials involved in the EPS programme must take responsibility for their failures and resign within the next 24 hours.

They said to resolve the prevailing crisis involving the EPS programme, the government must intervene diplomatically to ensure the re-rostering of deleted candidates, increase visa issuance based on batch year and serial number, and prevent the dreams of 21,000 workers from being shattered. 

Additionally, they demanded an urgent discussion between the Chief Adviser and student representatives to address the issues.

The longstanding irregularities and unjust framework of the BOESL from the fascist era must be dismantled, and the entire system must undergo comprehensive reform and restructuring, they protesters demanded.