Manama: Decisions on hiring of Bangladeshi workers would have to be made by various official bodies, said a labour official as pressure mounted on the Bahraini government to halt the hiring of Bangladeshis.
Several Bahrainis, including journalists and a parliamentary bloc, have called upon the authorities not to allow Bangladeshis to work in the kingdom following the murder of a 38-year-old Bahraini at a garage on Friday.
Mohammad Hassan Al Dossary, a father of three daughters, was killed by Bangladeshi worker Mohammad, also a father of two daughters living with their mother in their native village, following an argument.
The mechanic allegedly attacked Al Dossary using a grinder before fleeing the scene, according to his sponsor, to hide in a mosque several kilometres away before he was arrested.
The murder revived calls made last year to take stringent measures against Bangladeshis following the killing of a Bahraini woman by her cook.
Monitoring
"Such a decision is not just about cancelling work permits by the Labour Ministry, but involves several other government bodies. There is a close monitoring of all events that helps understand the general orientation of the labourers and their adaptation to the character of the Bahraini society," Jameel Al Humaidan, Labour Ministry Undersecretary, said yesterday.
Al Asala, the second largest parliamentary bloc, called for a timetable to deport Bangladeshis, saying that they represented a threat to social peace and stability.
"We are shocked by the number and frequency of the murders and crimes perpetrated by this community, and the government should act promptly to deport those who are now in Bahrain and to stop issuing any new permits," Al Asala said.
"We will soon submit a motion to the parliament to force the government to end the hiring of Bangladeshis because of their aggressive and tense character," the Islamist bloc said.
Several columnists called for the "immediate and irrevocable" deportation of Bangladeshis, warning that failure to take action would mean more hostile behaviour.
However, the head of Al Meethaq Society, Ahmad Juma, rejected the calls, saying that Bangladesh should not be punished for the crimes by some of its citizens.
