MORE than 300 undocumented expatriates have been rounded up as part of a major security operation underway in Bahrain, the GDN has learnt.
The latest crackdown on the so-called free-visa market, which sources described as “the biggest and most intensified” campaign to date, aims to reduce the rampant problem of illegal workers and associated crimes.
Well-placed sources confirmed to the GDN that police officials in co-operation with other government agencies have detained more than 300 illegal workers, mainly Bangladeshis, from all four governorates in the last two weeks.
There is an estimated 60,000 illegal expatriates living in Bahrain.
“Teams have been formed in the four governorates and they are visiting different areas, shops and markets daily to catch illegal workers,” said one of the sources.
“Latest figures show that in the Capital Governorate alone 230 workers have been detained for residency violations, with majority of them being Bangladeshi.”
He said high numbers of illegal expatriates have also been detained in other areas including Muharraq and Riffa – explaining that police personnel accompanied by inspectors from the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) are equipped with fingerprint machines to check the residency status of expatriates in the country.
“If the worker fails to provide any document that can prove his legal status or confesses to being illegal, which they often do during the raids, then we detain them,” he added.
He said the campaign will continue in the coming weeks – adding that the number of violators being detained was increasing on a daily basis.
However, he said the deportation mechanism was still being worked out.
“We are still working on several details before we deport them back to their country,” he added.
Another source said that those arrested were given an opportunity to legalise their residency status if they were eligible for the Flexible Work Permit, which allows expatriates with expired or terminated work visas to sponsor themselves by paying a total of BD1,169 for a renewable two-year residency permit.
Inspections were stepped up following the brutal murder of Bahraini imam Shaikh Abduljalil Hmood on August 4 by a Bangladeshi muezzin (prayer caller) in Muharraq.
Seven people, including the 39-year-old muezzin, have been remanded in custody pending their trial.
Bangladeshis are the second largest expatriate community in Bahrain with over 200,000 workers, with majority of them falling under the undocumented category because of residency violations.
Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Bahrain Major General (Rtd) K M Mominur Rahman said the crackdown has been targeting criminals such as illegal residents and those running gambling dens.
“It is time for a crackdown on these mischievous elements that should face justice and permanently blacklisted,” he said.
“We want a crime free society – there should be zero tolerance for these violations.
“Nobody should tolerate people gambling on the street and even those watching them do so – this all must be stopped.”
In a frank conversation with the GDN, Major General Rahman said undocumented workers had no place living in Bahrain.
“If they want to send illegal workers back (to Bangladesh), let them do so, I don’t care,” he added.
“Criminals should be sent back. I have sent back a huge number of my nationals who were caught for different violations.
“I expect them to respect Bahrain’s laws but at the same time I want to be respected as well.”
An increasing number of Bangladeshis are either sentenced or facing trial on charges of human trafficking, murder, theft, rape and assault, among other crimes.
Bangladesh Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam said in June this year that 5,035 Bangladeshis were in jails in various countries, including 976 in Saudi Arabia, 851 in the UAE, 478 in Oman, 438 in Bahrain, 384 in Kuwait and 238 in Qatar.
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