180 Bangladeshis return home after falling victim to fraud in Kyrgyzstan

A total of 180 Bangladeshi migrants, who were lured to Kyrgyzstan with promises of high-paying jobs in the garment and construction sectors but ended up victims of fraud, have returned home. 

They arrived in Dhaka on a special flight from Bishkek at 3:30am today (10 September).

The repatriation was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Civil Aviation Authority, and Brac Migration Programme, which also provided the returnees with financial and emergency assistance at the airport.

"Many were taken to Kyrgyzstan with promises of well-paid jobs but ended up unpaid, jobless, undocumented, and even tortured. Some families were forced to pay ransom for their release," said Shariful Hasan, associate director of Brac's Migration and Youth Platform.

Several returnees described harrowing experiences. 

Shahidul Islam, 45, from Lalmonirhat, said his visa expired a day after arrival in 2024. 

"I worked seven months without pay before being jailed for three months," he said. 

Prince Mia, 21, from Shariatpur, was taken via Dubai with a promise of reaching Italy after Kyrgyzstan. He paid Tk4.8 lakh and spent 44 days in jail. 

Another returnee, Milon Ali, 38, from Kushtia, said, "I suffered an accident while welding, but received no support. After four months without pay, I turned myself in and was tortured in prison."

Brac said it has assisted over 35,000 returnees at airports over the last eight years. In 2024 alone, 40 migrants were rescued from different countries. 

Anti-trafficking campaigners, including US TIP Hero 2024 awardee Al-Amin Noyon and Malaysia returnee Rayhan Kabir, are involved in this humanitarian effort.

Brac urged stranded migrants to reach out to its Migration Welfare Centre for support, pledging to continue coordinating with government and international agencies for their reintegration.