When Rima, not her real name, left for Saudi Arabia ahead of Eid-ul-Azha last year, she believed she had secured a company job with a monthly salary of 1,000 riyals, with food and accommodation included.

There was silence all around, except for some dogs mildly barking, in the middle of the night. Some ambulances were parked just outside the airport’s cargo area as five to six people sat on chairs under neon lights nearby. They were waiting for the corpses of their family members returning from abroad.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has just released a 68-page report titled “I was sold” that outlines the near-slavery conditions for migrant domestic workers in Oman.

Bangladesh hasn't ratified the Domestic Workers Act itself, making it difficult for the government to require the same of destination countries.