Migrant deaths: Long delay in bringing bodies home adds to families’ agonies

The lengthy process of sending home the dead bodies of migrant workers from abroad just adds to the agony of their family members.

In most cases, families wait for up to six months while in some cases, it takes them even one year to receive the dead bodies of their near and dear ones.

Such long delay in bringing the dead bodies home takes place mainly due to funding shortages and procedural complexities, according to families of the deceased workers and rights groups.

"I have been waiting since September last to bring the dead body of my husband home. But it is still uncertain and none knows when the body will arrive home," said Sumi Begum who hails from Jhenidah.

Sumi's husband Alamgir Hossain (30) was killed in a gas cylinder explosion in Iraq on September 30. He worked at a plastic product manufacturing factory in the Kurdistan region of the middle-east country.

He left behind two children and his old mother, Sumi said, adding that now she cannot endure pain as her younger son is only one-year old.

"If we could see his face just once and bury him shortly, then it would be easier to overcome the shocks. But we are yet to get any fixed date for receiving the body," she added.

Insiders have said most of the times expatriate Bangladeshis arrange funds to send back the deceased home when employers don't pay expenses.

As per the rules especially in the ME countries like Saudi Arabia, it is very difficult to send the dead bodies home.

Besides, they said, Bangladesh missions and relevant ministries seem reluctant to provide due services to the families of deceased workers to bring the bodies home in the shortest possible time.

Talking to the FE, Khokon Kazi, a migrant who has been working in Malaysia for last 13 years said he and his friends so far arranged funds for sending at least 30 bodies to home.

Sharing his experience, he said Bangladesh embassy hardly helps bring the dead bodies home.

Reputed companies send the bodies of their workers on their own initiative. Otherwise, expatriate Bangladeshis take all responsibilities in this regard.

"Sometimes we cannot send bodies due to financial crisis," Mr Khokon said, adding that workers of other countries don't face such sufferings as their embassies are active.

He has claimed that Biman also does not want to carry the dead bodies of migrant workers. So, it takes time to send the bodies to their families.

"In fact, the country is only interested to receive our remittances, but not to bring our bodies," he expressed his frustration.

Maiz Uddin, principal of Hazrat Shah Ali Mohila College in the city, said despite lobbying with high officials and paying expenses, it took three months to bring the dead body of his brother.

His brother Mohammad Mesbah Uddin (47) died at Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

"We spent about Tk 350,000 to get clearance from different departments in Saudi Arabia," he added.

Talking to the FE, Shariful Hasan, programme head of BRAC Migration Programme, said it is very unfortunate that family members wait for long time to receive the dead bodies of beloved ones.

Even some bodies are kept at mortuaries in the host countries for years, he said.

The authorities should allocate necessary funds for bringing the dead bodies home. They also should take diplomatic initiatives to ease the procedure, Mr Hasan observed.

"The government always says migrant workers are the 'heroes' of the nation. So, why are they facing such negligence in every step?" he questioned.

When contacted, Zahid Anwar, deputy director at the Wage Earners' Welfare Board (WEWB), the key department dealing with the issue said except Saudi Arabia, they can bring bodies home within 3-15 days.

From Saudi Arabia it takes more time as they need to get clearance from 14 departments.

"Only Kafalas or sponsors are authorised to communicate with the departments in the Kingdom. If they don't cooperate with the migrant families, then the procedure becomes lengthier," he said.

Unfortunately, most of them don't want to take such responsibility as the workers who went with individual or so-called free visas do not work under the sponsors.

However, luckily the dead body of Nur Hossain was brought home within eight days from Saudi Arabia, said his brother Selim Ahmed.

"So, I don't believe that there is any reason for delay in sending dead bodies of migrant workers," he said.

Mr Ahmed who also worked in the KSA for nine years said if services are provided in time from both the countries, then all deceased can be sent home within a few days.

Director General WEWB Gazi Mohammad Julhas said he received no complaint recently from left-behind families over delay in sending dead bodies home.

"No dead body is left in morgue in the destination country except special cases like unnatural death," he said, adding that if employers do not cooperate, WEWB gives money to bring the bodies.

There can be mismanagement as several departments and missions are engaged with the process. "But if we get any complaint, we will take steps immediately," he added.

WARBE Development Foundation chairman Syed Saiful Haque stressed the need for mentioning the maximum timeframe of sending dead bodies in recruitment agreements with different countries.

And of course, labour officials should be employed in each region of job destination countries to provide services smoothly.

Since 2005, the country received over 36,000 dead bodies of migrant workers from abroad. Of them, 3,095 came during the period between January and October thisyear, according to the WEWB.

But unofficially, the number would be much higher, sector insiders said.

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