Shawdesh Desk:

Although there is a huge demand for them in the Maldives, Bangladeshi workers are unable to go there with work permits as the export of unskilled labour to the tourism-based island nation remained halted since 2019.

It is learnt that the Maldivian employers want to employ Bangladeshi workers more as they consider them as trustworthy, hardworking, honest and reliable.

However, the export of unskilled manpower from Bangladesh to the Maldives remained suspended since the beginning of 2019, forcing many to resort to illegal channels to reach the island country.

Evading the eyes of the law enforcement agencies, many Bangladeshi young job seekers are regularly leaving the country illegally for this tourist country to build their future there.

They are reportedly making their voyages with the help of different organised gangs of human traffickers.

By using different land and water routes of the neighbouring countries of India and Sri Lanka, the rackets are sending them to this country, detective sources said.

However, those who are going to the Maldives illegally are deprived of fair salaries as they have to depend on the mercy of their employers.

The Maldives is recognised as the No. 1 tourism destination, surpassing thousands of other islands in the world.

With a population of around 5 lakh, the country has been declared as the ‘World’s Best Tourist Destination’ by the World Tourism Organization in 2020.

Tourists from all over the world flock to this beautiful country to see the serene and picturesque environment, the azure waters on the pristine beaches and the tropical coral reefs.

The country has thousands of islands. Its government has given utmost importance to ensuring all kinds of facilities to attract tourists to these isolated islands.

Hotels and cottages of different sizes — big and small — have been built under the concept of ‘One Island One Cottage’. These cottages have also branches of hotels and restaurants of various reputed brands of the world.

Wealthy tourists can take a sea plane to the island as soon as they land at the Male Airport. Some people rush to the cottages by big ship or speedboat.

All concerned doing their business with full professionalism for the development and growth of the tourism industry to take the country forward economically.       The tourism industry accounts for 80 percent of the Maldives’ gross national income. It is learnt that the lion’s share of the tourism business in the country is run by the private sector.

Behind this success of the private sector is the non-intervention of the government. The government has formulated policies for development of the tourism industry. The conditions and rules framed in light of the policies are fully followed by the private sector businessmen.

“As we’re illegal, we don’t get our expected salaries here. The employers use us as per their will. Had our government through discussion with the Maldives government fixed the monthly salaries, we would have got our due ones,” Mizanur Rahman, a Bangladeshi citizen who is now working in a construction firm in the Maldives, told this correspondent.

He said they are working with almost half salary.

Mizan and other workers, however, expressed their satisfaction over the role of the Maldives’ law enforcers.

Although they are staying there illegally, the law enforcers of that country are not harassing them, the Bangladeshi workers added.

They also expressed their happiness over the recent introduction of direct US-Bangla flights between Dhaka and Male at a comparatively lower fare.

Kamrul Islam, chief of the US-Bangla media wing, told this correspondent that they have introduced the direct Dhaka-Male flight at a cheaper fare, considering the Bangladeshi workers residing in the island country.

According to the Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives, over 1 lakh Bangladeshi workers are now working in different fields there and almost half of them are undocumented.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Maldives Mohammad Nazmul Hasan told a group of visiting Bangladeshi journalists on Saturday evening at his Maldives office that they were trying hard to manage the Maldives government to legalise those Bangladeshi workers who are staying there illegally.

“At the same time, we’re working so that Bangladeshi workers can come to this country with work permits,” he added.

Nazmul said the Maldives government is cooperating with non-governmental organisations for the development of the country’s tourism industry.

The government is formulating all kinds of policies, laws and conditions necessary for development of the tourism industry, he said, adding that but they do not interfere in the business.

The high commissioner, however, said government officials visit cottages in Male and other islands from time to time.

First warning is issued if any irregularity is found in any restaurant about food or other things, he said. “The restaurant is closed for five years and a case is filed against it for recurrence of the crime. Although traders are given complete freedom, the government is keeping a close watch on them.”