Stranded in Malaysia for over 13 Months
Sailors return home without salary
Thirteen Bangladeshi sailors stranded for over 13 months in their ship detained by Port Klang authorities in Malaysia on May 4 last year returned home on June 21. But they are still waiting for salaries pending for nine months from the shipping company HRC Shipping.
"I have never been detached from the family for so long and am extremely happy to be reunited with my family.
“But the thought of our pending salary is greatly troubling us," said AKM Alamgir, captain of the ship MV Banga Biraj, over phone from Noakhali.
Malaysian authorities arranged the repatriation following a case filed against HRC Shipping for damages to a crane made by the ship in 2008.
It is the Malaysian government, journalists and Suhakam, Malaysian Human Rights Commission, who should be credited for the repatriation, Alamgir said. "We are grateful to them."
Their plight came to limelight after a report was published in The Star, a Malaysian newspaper, on May 25.
Malaysian authorities gave an ultimatum to HRC Shipping, but the company took no initiative for the repatriation.
Suhakam Commissioner James Nayagam with port authorities brought the sailors out of the ship on June 3 and persuaded the government to provide them food and shelter for 17 days before the repatriation.
Alamgir said the company's Manager in Malaysia Kazi Nurul Alam told Malaysian authorities that they had paid the salaries at home, but upon return, the sailors found this was false.
"When we contacted the Chittagong office of HRC Shipping, they said they do not have the funds. Meanwhile, its Dhaka office does not receive our phone calls," said Musleh Uddin Ahmed, the ship's chief officer.
He said they were planning on taking legal action to realise their salary, which would amount to a few crores of takas.
Despite repeated attempts, The Daily Star could not contact HRC Shipping's General Manager Captain Shahjahan Siraj over phone for his comment yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, the ship is now under the care of Marine Department of Malaysia and is likely to be sold. The money from the sale will be used to cover losses incurred in the accident, reported The Star on June 22.
Nayagam told The Star that the entire incident should be thoroughly investigated because it received international attention and brought shame to the country.
On the sailors being stranded, he said, “The culprits responsible violated Anti-Trafficking In Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.''
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments