The annual remittance from the expatriate workers is around US $ 4.2 billion, which is considered as the country's second largest export earning. The number of Bangladeshis getting employment abroad annually is about 2.6 lakh while unofficially it would be higher as some people often conceal the purpose of foreign travels in their statements.

Despite occasional steps taken by the government, a good number of expatriate workers continue to send their money through unofficial channel. If the administration can ensure the entire remittances of the expatriate workers through official channels, the total amount of remittance is sure to increase substantially.

None in the government could provide the exact number of our people working abroad as some fake manpower recruiting agencies and a section of unscrupulous travel agencies are engaged in sending people abroad using forged travel documents. In the process there are frequent reports of Bangladeshis facing troubles for travelling without valid documents.

A good number of our people were cheated in the name providing jobs in Europe and elsewhere. Some among them had met even starvation deaths. Some of those behind such racketeering were taken into custody following media campaigns.

There are occasional reports against fake manpower recruiting agencies but little is heard about their punishment. They establish contacts with powerful quarters so that they can continue their illegal business of cheating the job seekers to make quick money.

The number of people falling in their traps has been on increase despite assurances from the administration of action against such elements. The reasons can be attributed to lapses and lacuna in our judicial system and corruption by a section of people in relevant departments.

The other day Shafiqul Islam Firoz, Vice President, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agency (BAIRA) was arrested on his way to a foreign country from the ZIA international airport for his reported involvement in miscreants' attack on another manpower office. It is indeed a demonstration of the extent of their involvement in criminal acts.

Isolated reports of expatriate workers' involvement in criminal activities, is indeed a matter of concern for us as in the process some of the fortune seekers find their places in jails. There are even reports of deportation of our men caught in foreign lands for journey without proper travel documents. But for such offences instead of blaming the job seekers the administration should take tough action against those behind illegal export of manpower.

Some of our unemployed young people seeking jobs in foreign countries, at times become traceless, meaning their unnatural deaths. The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment expressed the government's limitations in effectively checking illegal recruitment.

With the growing unemployment problem at home there has been increasing interests for employment abroad. A small percentage of the fortune seekers also choose their life partners while working abroad for long. What is disturbing is any case of cheating foreign nationals in the name of marriage.

Malaysia has recently updated its law with provisions of severe punishment of foreign nationals (including Bangladeshis) to bar them from entering into wedlock with their girls. Some isolated instances of cheating Malaysian girls by our boys, has tarnished our country's image.

Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry failed to provide the exact number of our people facing criminal charges abroad. But the number of Bangladeshis languishing in foreign jails will be about 5,000, many of whom for travelling without valid documents.

Recently a Saudi Arabian woman who was married to a Bangladeshi, got a space in a Bengali daily. The woman named Fatema, who is in her mid 30s had fallen in love with Salauddin when he was working in her country. She was brought here with her four minor children with pledge for conjugal life in Bangladesh.

Fatema's husband took her to a city hotel on reaching Dhaka. Later, she was abandoned by her husband in the hotel. She was almost forcibly driven away from there for her failure to pay the bills.

She has however, found shelter in a rehabilitation centre, run by a charity foundation of a private bank having spent some weeks in shanties. As the news of her distress caught the attention of a top boss of the bank, she was taken to the rehabilitation center.

"We have taken up the case and will proceed for legal fight for her redress,” advocate Alina Khan said. Her case is under investigation of Human Rights Enforcement Organisation (Manabadikhar Bastabayan Sangstha).

Fatema has filed a case against her husband's elder brother with Motijheel police as she believes that her husband's elder brother was behind theft of her gold ornaments and a good amount of Saudi money.

The case of Fatema needs serious attention as the country's image should not suffer for isolated incidents of offences. The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment has already taken up the matter but it needs some one to file a prayer on her behalf so that it could act promptly, a senior official of the Ministry said.

Nurul Huda is a Special Correspondent of BSS.