Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee, along with the joint efforts of the state administration, has facilitated the return of 11 migrant labourers from South 24-Parganas who were stranded in Iraq.
One of the workers, Mofijul Islam from Namkhana, has already returned home, while four others, Sheikh Aminuddin, Sheikh Mokhlesur, Surya Deb, and Sadhan Biswas, are expected to arrive on Saturday. The remaining labourers are set to return gradually in the coming days.
Government Intervention
Reports note Banerjee contacted the Union Ministry of External Affairs to speed up the labourers' return and personally coordinated with the families of the stranded workers, assuring them of support. Visa-related issues have been resolved, and the employer who had engaged the labourers has been traced and placed under surveillance by the state administration with police assistance.
Labourers' harrowing experience
Family members revealed that each labourer had been promised Rs 1.5 lakh before leaving for Iraq. However, after reaching Baghdad, they reportedly faced hardships, including denial of food and wages, and in some cases, physical assault. The workers managed to inform their families about their plight, triggering anxious days for their loved ones.
Millennium Post reported that the relieved relatives have expressed gratitude toward Banerjee for his intervention. “We are keeping our fingers crossed. Our anxiety will not end until my brother returns, but we have been informed he is safe and will be back soon after completing all formalities,” said one family member.
Officials stated that the 11 labourers are likely to return India soon, bringing an end to such distressing episode.
