'July expatriate warriors': Protesters threaten hunger strike after 'unsatisfactory' ministry meeting over UAE detainees' release

A group of protesters demanding the release of Bangladeshi expatriates detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced a hunger strike unto death starting today (22 June), expressing complete dissatisfaction with a meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The announcement came after a delegation from the protesters, mostly comprising families of the detainees, attended a meeting at the ministry this afternoon.

"We were told we would meet the foreign adviser or the foreign secretary. But upon going there, we did not meet anyone. The person we met introduced himself as the director general of the West Asia Wing. We were not satisfied with the meeting with him. For this reason, we will go on a hunger strike to continue our movement," said Sagir Talukder, a UAE returnee and one of the protest coordinators, speaking to journalists after the meeting.

The protesters had been demonstrating in front of Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka, calling for the immediate release of the expatriates arrested during the July 2024 uprising in the UAE.

Earlier in the day, Ramna Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Faruq told TBS, "During the 2024 July uprising, some expatriates detained in the UAE were released, but several others have not yet been freed. The protest is aimed at urging the government to take steps for their release."

The delegation left for the ministry at around 1:30pm, following discussions with law enforcement officials.

Prior to the ministry visit, Sagir Talukder, who led the delegation, said, "At the request of the police, we are going to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for discussions. However, we will not leave the street until we meet the chief adviser."

Before heading to the ministry, Sagir sent a message to the protesters asking them to remain on the street until the delegation returned.

Meanwhile, protesters who had remained outside the hotel arranged lunch on the road, continuing their sit-in. Police later intervened and asked them to move to one side of the street to ease traffic congestion.

The protesters' demands include justice and rehabilitation for expatriate workers affected by the July 2024 movement in the UAE.