Editorial
A mind-boggling incident
Need for stricter watch on fake manpower agents
THE death of a woman at the hands of a so-called manpower agent and his hired goons has been as shocking as it is outrageous. We have no words strong enough to condemn the incident resulting from a dehumanised reaction to a legitimate demand for a refund of money consequent upon a breach of contract.
The tragedy is a horrific upshot of a professional trickster's scheme to cheat a young man-seeking job overseas out of the larger part of his money on the pretext of sending him to Italy.
Reports say the tragedy occurred at a village in Keraniganj district not far from the capital city. The chain of events leading to the killing of the mother occurred as the duped person who had advanced some 0.95 million taka to the putative manpower exporter from a nearby village had gone all out to get his money back.
The so-called manpower agent when faced with repeated dual pressure from the person thus taken for a ride by him on the one hand, and the intervention of a local arbitration entity, on the other, turned violent and in a bid to eliminate the cause of his trouble attacked him at his house to abduct him. But the mother, who could not stand the torment her son was going through, entered the scene and drew the wrath of the hoodlums eventually dying.
Incidents of cheating of innocent people looking for jobs overseas by fake manpower agents and their middlemen were common in the country in the not-too-distant past. The governments on different occasions took some steps to bring some discipline in the sector. As a result, it appeared that incidence of such swindling had declined. But the latest incident should cause some fresh worry.
It appears breach of contracts or promises has become a way with an unprofessional bunch of manpower exporters who bring bad name to genuine manpower agents. The issue calls for preventive action at all concerned levels including community, manpower exporters' association and the government.
It appears that the local police station was yet to arrest the gangsters. They must swing into action and bring the culprits to book.
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