Porimol Palma

Agriculture scientists in Bangladesh have found a new pest -- fall armyworm -- that has destroyed maize and sorghum fields covering millions of square kilometres and devastated the livelihoods of farmers in Africa.

The November 15 attempt to repatriate Rohingyas to Myanmar has failed. And that was destined too, despite wholehearted efforts from Bangladesh. Although Myanmar officials were quick to blame their Bangladesh counterparts for the “failure”, the ground reality provided a different picture.

In a rare move, Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar camps yesterday began a three-day strike protesting what they say is the forcible issuing of 'smart cards' which exclude the word 'Rohingya'.

The humanitarian operations for the Rohingyas should be more transparent and cost effective as their repatriation may take longer than expected and the funding is inadequate.

Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia will soon get medical and disability benefits as the Southeast Asian country has decided to bring foreign workers under its Social Security Organisation.

The much-awaited launch of the Rohingya repatriation was cancelled at the last moment yesterday as the refugees refused to return to Rakhine for fear of fresh persecution.

Ambia Khatun has been almost bed-ridden for the last one year. She has not even been able to take a walk in her neighbourhood or see her relatives as the right part of her body became numb since she suffered a stroke a year back.

When 15-year-old Shima Begum, who worked as a house help in Jordan for 17 months, arrived in Dhaka on October 19, there was nobody waiting for her at the airport.

Unpaid since May, about 300 Bangladeshi migrant workers are struggling in a Qatar labour camp that has no running water and power and many of them have become sick.

Kuala Lumpur has opposed Dhaka's proposal for giving the undocumented Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia a fresh chance to legalise themselves, say officials at the expatriates' welfare ministry.

The previous Najib Razak-led Malaysian government had created the manpower syndicate which “monopolised” the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in the Southeast Asian country, according to officials and documents obtained by The Daily Star.

Labour migration analysts and businesses have expressed optimism that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will highlight Bangladeshi migrant workers' rights during her meeting with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud today.

The Saudi labour market is shrinking fast for Bangladeshis as locals are taking up foreign workers' jobs amid the kingdom's strong policy against undocumented migrants.

Agents in Malaysia have swindled a huge sum of money from thousands of Bangladeshi workers in the Southeast Asian country, who, over the last two years, had applied to regularise their immigration status, victims and researchers said.

A frail-looking Dadan Mia stepped out of Shahjalal International Airport with a small handbag, walking slowly with a sense of uncertainty. He had an uncombed black hair, flecked with grey, and an unkempt beard. Dressed in a shabby jacket and trousers, Dadan seemed to be on the verge of tears.

Hasan had applied for a work permit nearly six months before the Malaysian authorities' rehiring programme for undocumented foreign workers ended on June 30. He had all the documents to prove that, but those meant nothing to the immigration police.

Tens of thousands of foreign workers in Malaysia have been living in fear and uncertainty since the government began a massive crackdown on undocumented foreign workers on July 1 following the end of a over two-year rehiring programme

Hundreds of Bangladeshis and other foreign workers usually throng popular destinations like Bukit Bintang, Kota Raya, Jalan Petaling and Jalan Silang in Kuala Lumpur in the weekend which is on Sunday.

Thousands of Bangladeshi and other expatriate workers in Malaysia are in fear as the country's immigration department is set to begin a major crackdown on undocumented migrants after an amnesty programme ended on Thursday.

Aung San Suu Kyi's remark that pace of Rohingya return depends on Bangladesh is grossly wrong and reflects the lack of Myanmar's sincerity to a sustainable solution to the crisis, says international relations analysts.