Dubai: Arrests have been made of Bangladeshi migrant workers in the UAE who were protesting against their Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This shows how tough Dubai can be on public demonstrations especially led by foreigners.
Bangladesh is currently witnessing the peak of student-led protests over government job quotas. The demonstrators, who are mostly students themselves, demand the abolition of a system they consider unfair and that discriminates against candidates based on merit. In response, the government went all out; it imposed a national night-time curfew aimed at quelling any sign of unrest. Security forces were instructed to shoot or maim anyone found breaching it. Such drastic measures resulted in heavy casualties with 133 reported dead and hundreds more injured. This has consequently left the nation highly unstable and a global concern.
The reply was fast and unyielding – this is what French news agency AFP said about UAE’s response to protests by expatriate Bangladeshis. Emirati authorities did not mention specific locations or several arrests but. The attorney general said those detained would be charged with taking part in public gatherings and causing chaos including claims they damaged UAE interests as well as its security. This act can only mean one thing no tolerance by the United Arab Emirates. When it comes to demos involving outsiders who might bring their countries’ politics into the host country.
large numbers from Bangladesh
With large numbers from Bangladesh alone, among other foreign communities Pakistani Indians being the second largest after Pakistani, many expatriates are living in UAE. Which makes them one among others having the biggest such population globally outside South Asia. These overseas residents contribute greatly to the Emirates’ economy. Where they are mainly employed in the construction sector service industry domestic work etcetera. However, still strict rules apply regarding public order. While no form of protest or demonstration is allowed at all because it may create tension. Between various communities coexisting harmoniously.
The arrest of Bangladeshi protesters demonstrates the wider strategy used by the UAE for maintaining internal safety and order. The country has always taken quick action against anything that might destabilize it given past events. Emirates will do anything to ensure their state is safe they have even sometimes been harsh on anybody. Who would dare show disagreement with what is happening but such an approach should be understood within? The overall political setup in the United Arab Emirates is where more emphasis is put on economic development than civil rights.
This also illustrates
How challenging life can sometimes become for foreign workers all over the world; caught between home politics and host country laws like those of UAE. Where people mainly come looking for a better life without knowing anything about local traditions or statutes. Which could deny them certain liberties commonly demanded by citizens from their countries.
The arrests of Bangladeshi migrants in the UAE for protesting against their government highlight the fragile relationship between expatriates and host nations. United Arab Emirates’ zero-tolerance policy on public gatherings, coupled with its swift reaction to anything perceived as. A threat to its security brings into sharp focus one of the biggest dilemmas faced by foreigners. Balancing political activism with respect for the laws of their adopted countries. While Bangladesh remains highly dynamic, developments amongst overseas residents remain. At the heart of concerns about global labor market dynamics and the rights of migrant workers.
