Bangladesh migrant workers, embassy protest link to terrorist group in Korea

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Nov. 21, 2004 – Expatriate Bangladeshi workers in South Korea, backed by the Bangladesh embassy have strongly objected to a lawmaker’s disparaging remarks that seem to tarnish the image of migrant workers from Bangladesh in Korea.

In stories that ran Oct. 13 and 14, local media including the nation's largest daily, "Chosun Ilbo," reported that three Bangladeshi nationals had been deported in April for involvement with an Islamic group described as anti–Korean.

"Chosun Ilbo" reported that opposition lawmaker Kim Jae–kyung revealed the deportation in the National Assembly on Oct. 13. He reportedly criticized the government for deporting only three alleged members of Dawatul Islam of Korea and failing to arrest two others. Kim attributed his information about the case to the National Intelligence Service.

The Bangladeshi Embassy in South Korea asserted Oct. 15 in a press statement that it had not been informed by the Korean government of any deportation of Bangladeshis on the basis of alleged involvement with an anti–Korean group.

Mhasum, a Bangladeshi who has worked in South Korea for 8 years, shared that following the disparaging reports, a taxi driver accosted him, saying "all Bangladeshis are terrorists." Mhasum has been part of a yearlong sit–in at the entrance of Myongdong Cathedral in Seoul protesting the government's crackdown on illegal workers.

Such suspicion and charges are not only recent, he added, saying two migrant workers were deported as "terrorists" after being arrested at a rally in October 2003 for contract laborers' rights.

"If that is why I am called terrorist, does it mean that those Korean workers who have struggled with me against the government's policies are also terrorists?" he asked.

Regarding Dawatul Islam of Korea, Mhasum claimed no evidence has been produced linking the organization with terrorism or anti–Korean activities.

As a result of the government crackdown on migrant workers, Mhasum said many Muslim workers here do not dare to go to a mosque, even now during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Islam requires them to fast daily on all food and drink from dawn until sunset during the month. They pray alone, Mhasum admitted.

Jahid, another Bangladeshi migrant worker who has been part of the sit–in exclaimed that it is unjust for people to consider Bangladeshis ‘terrorists’ due to a rumor that some Bangladeshis were involved in a "terrorist group."

Jahid has worked in Korea for nine years. He said few Bangladeshis are involved in Dawatul Islam of Korea.

The migrant workers started their protest in November 2003, when the Korean government began a crackdown on "illegal foreign workers." The 30 protesters, all reportedly from Bangladesh or Nepal, set up tents on the cathedral grounds, where they continue their sit–in.

According to the Bangladeshi Embassy, media did not ask it for official comments before publishing the deportation stories. The press release, signed by Mahbub Hassan Saleh, first secretary of the embassy, insisted the reports were "baseless" and present a negative image of Bangladesh to Koreans.

Saleh's statement said South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ministry of Justice confirmed in a recent meeting with embassy officials that no Bangladeshi national has been deported for involvement with the Islamic group. Moreover, authorities said they did not provide any such report to the opposition lawmaker, contrary to his claims.

The first secretary confirmed that the ministries' denial proves the information Kim gave to media was "completely false" and misleading.

"If anyone was deported, like other illegal workers it must have been a case of staying illegally, nothing else," Saleh added.

Park Won–tak, professor of politics at Duksung Women's University in Seoul, shared that although Dawatul Islam has never committed acts of terrorism and is not on the U.S. State Department's list of terrorist organizations, its role and structure are similar to terrorist groups. "We need to watch the group closely," he added.

On the other hand, Jahid said he understood the group as basically a political organization that supports the ruling party in Bangladesh.

Since the late 1980s, the Myongdong cathedral grounds have been a sanctuary for pro–democracy activists, striking workers and other marginalized groups or individuals looking to demonstrate, protest or appeal to public opinion. The cathedral first offered shelter to people protesting the rule of then military ruler Chun Doo–hwan in 1987.