HC wants list of workers dead, injured in Qatar WC

The High Court on Monday sought a list of those who died and were injured while constructing structures including hotels, stadiums, and other establishments from 2010-2022 ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The High Court bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Masud R Sobhan.

It also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment to submit a report after making a list of Bangladeshi expatriate workers.

Besides, the court issued a rule asking the government to explain why directives should not be given to provide adequate compensation to the families of the 450 Bangladeshi workers if they had died during the work involving the World Cup.

Secretaries to the Foreign Ministry, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Bangladesh Embassy in Qatar, Bangladesh Missions in Geneva and Switzerland, and International Labour Organisation (ILO) office in Bangladesh, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), Interior Minister and Labour Minister of Qatar have been apprised of the rule.

Barrister Masud R Sobhan stood for the petitioner while assistant attorney general Abul Kalam Khan Daud represented the state.

On December 13, Barrister Masud, a Supreme Court lawyer filed a writ petition seeking compensation for the family members of 450 Bangladeshi workers who died during the construction work of many establishments in Qatar.

Reports in this regard, published in BBC, CNN and The Guardian were also attached to the writ.

Barrister Masud said, "A number of foreign workers, including Bangladeshis, have been suffering an inhumane life in Qatar while working on different projects as part of the FIFA World Cup. They were also forced to do the work for a long time amid inclement weather.

"…According to the reports, published in different media, it is found that 6,500 south Asian workers died in Qatar and 12 workers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka died in a week on average."