24 Bangladeshi women rescued from captivity in Saudi Arabia

A total of 24 Bangladeshi women, who remained captive illegally by a Saudi recruiting agency, have been rescued in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recently.

At the initiative of the Bangladeshi embassy and with the help of Saudi law enforcers, the women were rescued from Arar city, 1,100 kilometres off the Saudi capital city Riyadh, according to a press release.

Receiving information over the confinement of the women, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary asked the Labour Welfare Wing of the embassy to take necessary steps to rescue them without delay.

The ambassador also directed the Labour Welfare Wing to send them back to Bangladesh as soon as possible.

According to the Labour Welfare Wing, a Saudi recruiting agency named 'Maqtab Taowasul Alsari' took the women there illegally through a Bangladesh recruiting agency named 'Messrs S. Anwar overseas' and held them captive instead of sending them to the workplaces of Saudi employers.

Later, all the connections between the women from their native homes were disconnected. Even, if any woman fell sick due to insufficient food and safe water, they were not provided treatment.