Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection of Greece Nikolaos Dendias has assured the Bangladesh Ambassador there of providing adequate safety and security to Bangladeshi workers in Nea Manolada and the neighboring areas.Nikolaos said he would also instruct the local authorities to immediately settle the issue of outstanding payments.
“If needed, legal assistance would be provided to the workers to defend their rights,” he said during a meeting with Bangladesh Ambassador to Greece Golam Mohammad on Tuesday, according to a Foreign Ministry message issued on Wednesday.
The minister informed that the Greek court has already sentenced to send the alleged culprits to jail until the trial is finished. As per Greek law, the trial has to be finished within 18 months.
He also expressed his deep sorrow at the incident and termed it as “totally unacceptable”.
During the meeting, Bangladesh Ambassador expressed his satisfaction for the prompt actions taken by the government of Greece after the recent shooting incident that occurred in a strawberry farm Nea Manolada and for arresting the alleged culprits in this regard.
He also thanked the Greek minister for the official statement made by the Greek government condemning the incident in an explicit manner.
Golam Mohammad thanked Nikolaos for visiting the place of occurrence and hospitals to see the critically injured Bangladeshi workers.
The Bangladesh envoy requested Greek Public Order Minister to take appropriate measures so that all the unpaid salaries of the Bangladeshi strawberry farm workers are immediately paid and to make appropriate compensation to the wounded workers.
He also requested for ensuring adequate safety and security of the Bangladeshi workers in Nea Manolada and the neighboring areas. Golam Mohammad requested the minister to consider giving work permits to the undocumented farm workers for a particular period which would help address the issue of alleged exploitations made by owners of the farms.
The minister informed that the Greek government is, in principle, against any kind of general amnesty at this time because of serious economic recession.
During the meeting, the Greek minister was appreciative of the Bangladeshi workers and while maintaining that they are also contributing to the Greek economy. UNB
