Bangladesh maids ban to remain, says Ambassador Chowdhury

Manama, Nov 7 (BDNEWS) – Bangladesh is unlikely to reverse a ban on its nationals to work in Bahrain and other Gulf countries as housemaids, media reports said Monday.

The ban was imposed in March following complaints of maids being abused by sponsors and recruiting agencies.

Ambassador Dr Anwarullah Chowdhury said the embassy was trying to solve problems faced by the Bangladeshi housemaids, who have been working in Bahrain before the ban.

"It was a good decision taken by the Bahrain and Bangladesh governments not to bring anymore housemaids to Bahrain," he said.

Dr Chowdhury, who was speaking on the occasion of Bangladesh's National Revolution and Solidarity Day, said that in most cases the Bangladeshi housemaids were being cheated.

He said others were either paid low wages or did not have proper work permits.

But now the government issues work permits only to qualified people to work in reputed companies, he pointed out.

He said the embassy is exerting efforts to solve the problems of Bangladeshis living in Bahrain.

"The embassy is open for anyone and we are always ready to help and solve any problems for them, within our limits," Dr Chowdhury was quoted by Gulf Daily News as saying.

BDNEWS/1246 hrs