Workers who were unable to travel to Malaysia on calling visas staged a mass protest and sit-in at Karwan Bazar in the capital.
The protesters blocked roads leading to the FDC and Panthapath, causing significant disruption.
They gathered from 9am on Wednesday (22 January), demanding a resolution to their plight.
Demonstrators claimed that approximately 18,000 workers had been prevented from travelling to Malaysia on calling visas.
Each worker had reportedly paid around Tk5 lakh, often borrowing heavily or selling assets to raise the funds.
Their inability to travel has left them in dire financial straits.
The protesters declared that they were seeking their rightful dues and insisted they were not affiliated with any political party.
"We have spent between Tk4-6 lakh for our visas but have been unable to leave. Our suffering knows no bounds as we are burdened with debt," one protester said.
Their demands included the immediate departure of all those unable to leave on 31 May 2024, equal treatment for those with visas but without manpower clearance, and a deadline of 20 February for their departure.
Moin Uddin, leading the protest, urged the government to address their grievances with urgency. "We will continue our sit-in until our demands are met," he warned.
Meanwhile, Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon Police Station, Mubarak Hossain, noted that the protesters were vocal about their demands but assured that traffic flow remained unaffected.
