A rights organization dedicated to Bangladeshi expatriates, known as “Probas,” has submitted a formal memorandum to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding robust security measures, human rights protection, and legal justice for Bangladeshi workers abroad.

Before handing over the memorandum, the organization held a human chain protest outside the National Press Club at 12:30 PM on Sunday, 25 October. Representatives of the group urged the government to strengthen oversight of overseas labor security, thoroughly investigate allegations of workplace abuse, and establish coordinated mechanisms among relevant authorities to support stranded or vulnerable citizens internationally.

Addressing the gathering, the convener of Probas, writer and filmmaker Mostafa Monon, emphasized the state’s obligation to ensure legal representation for Bangladeshi nationals undergoing trial abroad. He noted that every citizen facing prosecution deserves a transparent trial and adequate defense support from the diplomatic missions.

Activist and Member Secretary of the organization Anand Kutum raised alarms over the severe abuse faced by female migrant workers, particularly in the Middle East. He highlighted that 980 female workers returned from Saudi Arabia over the past nine months after suffering extreme physical and psychological abuse. Some of these women returned while pregnant. Kutum demanded that the state provide financial compensation to the victims and ensure official state recognition and support for children born under such circumstances, while taking these grievances to international forums for long-term resolution.

Dr Trina Islam, a physician and coordinator at Probas, called for an audit into the performance of Bangladeshi embassies abroad, asserting that diplomatic missions must be held accountable for how actively they assist citizens in distress. Media Coordinator and journalist Hasnat Qadir reminded authorities of the economic backbone provided by migrant workers, cautioning that the nation must not reduce its citizens to mere remittance generators without offering them basic constitutional protections.

The demonstrators demanded independent investigations into incidents of harassment and abuse faced by migrant workers, alongside fair judicial processes in cases involving capital punishment. Speakers stressed that overseas workers contribute significantly to the national economy through remittances, making their safety and legal welfare an inescapable responsibility of the state.

Probas, which works across legal assistance, worker training, research, and public advocacy, announced plans to submit identical memorandums to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Chief Adviser’s Office.

The demonstration was jointly organized alongside the South Asian Accountability Network for Democracy (SAND), a regional network advocating for democratic rights and institutional accountability, with research support provided by the medical research entity The Scholaro.