Last of the Bangladeshis bid bitter farewell to Namibia

A NAMIBIAN experience most of them would rather put behind them is sure to continue when the last group of thwarted Bangladeshis arrive back home today.

Already yesterday some of the men were tearful at the thought of having to face a worse life at home after having sacrificed so much to come here. “Bye bye, see you later,” the men shouted from the bus windows to security guards and Police officers they got to know well during their short stay.For most, English is a foreign tongue of which they can understand very little and speak even less.But they did not go home without picking up a few words from the security guards who kept a watchful eye over them while they worked, ate and slept.They greeted them like old friends – even shaking hands with Police officers whom they said had been good to them – as they boarded the bus to the airport.Yesterday a group of about 40 were the last to vacate the ‘Ramatex Hotel’ just before lunch time.Earlier in the day another 100 had been taken to the airport.Only the four cooks remained behind to clean the makeshift kitchen and canteen.On Tuesday night, the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to South Africa and his First Secretary arrived in Windhoek and were expected to hold talks with Namibian Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry senior officials late yesterday.But it was too late to broker a better deal for close to 400 Bangladeshis who came to Namibia just over a month ago in the hope of a better life.Some of those who left yesterday carried leftover loaves of bread and cooking oil in a plastic bag.It was the sum total of their hand luggage.Others attempted to bundle up the mattresses they had slept on to take home.”Namibia don’t like us.Namibian Government cheating people,” said Nawab Naim, one of the cooks.He would like to have stayed.”I know something about Namibia from the Internet.Namibia is a new country.I thought it would be good to us,” he says.Another man claims he came to Namibia to escape the Bangladeshi government.He says he is a political activist and came to Namibia to avoid being killed.As Jashim put his luggage in the bus, he told The Namibian that his first priority would be to retrieve the money he paid to the agent to secure him a work contract in Namibia.Muklashrman says he is not sure what he will do – money is a problem he says.The Eastern Overseas agent Alif who the men attacked on Friday for allegedly tricking them, made a brief stop at the “hostel” late on Tuesday night.But this time he stayed outside the gate – only briefly talking to some of the men who still remained.He was originally believed to have quietly left the country after Friday’s riot as he never returned to speak to the men again, nor did he make contact with the Ramatex management.The company brought 372 men to Namibia to work at the Ramatex Textile Factory, but upon discovering they were unskilled, Government ordered that they be deported last Friday.Another 66 Bangladeshi men remain behind to plead for the mercy of the courts tomorrow in fighting a case of alleged unfair dismissal from the factory after having worked there for a year.”Bye bye, see you later,” the men shouted from the bus windows to security guards and Police officers they got to know well during their short stay.For most, English is a foreign tongue of which they can understand very little and speak even less.But they did not go home without picking up a few words from the security guards who kept a watchful eye over them while they worked, ate and slept.They greeted them like old friends – even shaking hands with Police officers whom they said had been good to them – as they boarded the bus to the airport.Yesterday a group of about 40 were the last to vacate the ‘Ramatex Hotel’ just before lunch time.Earlier in the day another 100 had been taken to the airport.Only the four cooks remained behind to clean the makeshift kitchen and canteen.On Tuesday night, the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to South Africa and his First Secretary arrived in Windhoek and were expected to hold talks with Namibian Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry senior officials late yesterday.But it was too late to broker a better deal for close to 400 Bangladeshis who came to Namibia just over a month ago in the hope of a better life.Some of those who left yesterday carried leftover loaves of bread and cooking oil in a plastic bag.It was the sum total of their hand luggage.Others attempted to bundle up the mattresses they had slept on to take home.”Namibia don’t like us.Namibian Government cheating people,” said Nawab Naim, one of the cooks.He would like to have stayed.”I know something about Namibia from the Internet.Namibia is a new country.I thought it would be good to us,” he says.Another man claims he came to Namibia to escape the Bangladeshi government.He says he is a political activist and came to Namibia to avoid being killed.As Jashim put his luggage in the bus, he told The Namibian that his first priority would be to retrieve the money he paid to the agent to secure him a work contract in Namibia.Muklashrman says he is not sure what he will do – money is a problem he says.The Eastern Overseas agent Alif who the men attacked on Friday for allegedly tricking them, made a brief stop at the “hostel” late on Tuesday night.But this time he stayed outside the gate – only briefly talking to some of the men who still remained.He was originally believed to have quietly left the country after Friday’s riot as he never returned to speak to the men again, nor did he make contact with the Ramatex management.The company brought 372 men to Namibia to work at the Ramatex Textile Factory, but upon discovering they were unskilled, Government ordered that they be deported last Friday.Another 66 Bangladeshi men remain behind to plead for the mercy of the courts tomorrow in fighting a case of alleged unfair dismissal from the factory after having worked there for a year.