Gulf | Bahrain

Bahrain Ministry stops issuing visas to Bangladeshis

Bahrain's interior ministry has stopped issuing work permits to Bangladeshis, responding to pressure from MPs and columnists, but sparking angry reactions from human rights activists.

  • By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
  • Published: 22:14 May 27, 2008
  • Gulf News

Manama: Bahrain's interior ministry has stopped issuing work permits to Bangladeshis, responding to pressure from MPs and columnists, but sparking angry reactions from human rights activists.

"Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa has issued directives to stop issuing work permits to Bangladeshi nationals," Yousuf Al Ghatam, entry-points, search and follow-up assistant undersecretary, said in a statement.

The decision comes four days after a 37-year-old Bahraini, Mohammad Al Dossary, was killed by a 32-year-old Bangladeshi mechanic allegedly following a heated argument in a garage.

Several conservative MPs said after the incident they would table a motion to stop recruiting workers from Bangladesh as several of its nationals have been involved in violent crimes against Bahrainis.

The charge d'affaires at the Bangladeshi embassy in Manama said he would appeal to the government to reconsider its "harsh decision against the thousands of Bangladeshis toiling in the cold and heat for the development of Bahrain".

Human rights activist Nabeel Rajab said in a statement to Gulf News: "The anti-Bangladeshi calls are a breach of human rights and Islamic teachings ... We are worried that the xenophobic campaign would lead to attacks on innocent Bangladeshis and we have already recorded some assault cases against them."

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