Asif Nazrul Leaves Event Amid Protest by Overseas Workers

Staff Reporter

Asif Nazrul, an advisor for expatriate welfare and overseas employment, faced intense protests from expatriates and was forced to leave an event on Saturday, December 28, held at the Bijoy 71 Hall of the Expatriate Welfare Building in Eskaton.

The event was organized to distribute financial aid of BDT 50,000 to expatriates who had been arrested and jailed in the UAE for participating in anti-government protests earlier this year.

During his speech, expatriates disrupted the proceedings, accusing the UAE Consul General of orchestrating their arrests and demanding immediate action against him. They also called for initiatives to rehabilitate those who suffered financial and personal losses.

Eyewitnesses reported that a returnee from Dubai approached the stage and accused the Consul General of labeling them as militants and urging UAE authorities to arrest them. The expatriate demanded the consul’s arrest, claiming it would expose critical information.

Asif Nazrul attempted to calm the crowd, suggesting that a seven-member delegation meet him at the ministry for further discussion. However, disagreements among the protesters over forming the delegation fueled further unrest.

The situation escalated when expatriates ignored Nazrul’s plea for order and continued to chant slogans, including demands for capital punishment for the accused consul. Eventually, Nazrul stopped speaking and left the venue.

The expatriates alleged that they were framed during their protests in the UAE and subsequently served long prison terms, with many losing significant savings and assets. They called for the repatriation and interrogation of Consul General B.M. Jamal to uncover the truth behind their arrests.

Secretary of the Expatriate Welfare Ministry Ruhul Amin urged the protesters to remain calm, while they insisted on meeting with the Chief Advisor to voice their grievances directly.