A Harrowing Ordeal: Bangladeshi Woman Alleges Severe Abuse and Deception in Saudi Arabia
A profoundly disturbing incident of alleged exploitation and severe abuse involving a migrant worker has come to light, casting another grim shadow over the overseas employment sector.
A thirty-one-year-old Bangladeshi woman is currently receiving comprehensive medical treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) following her recent return from Saudi Arabia.
The victim has levelled grave allegations of continuous physical torture and repeated sexual assault during her time in the Gulf kingdom, claiming she was lured abroad under entirely false pretences regarding her employment
Her devastating ordeal highlights the persistent vulnerabilities faced by female migrant workers seeking domestic employment overseas.
Upon her return to Bangladesh, the severity of the victim’s physical and psychological condition necessitated immediate medical intervention. Initially, the thirty-one-year-old survivor was admitted to the gynaecology department at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital to address her urgent health concerns.
However, as the harrowing details of her alleged sexual assaults emerged, medical professionals swiftly transferred her to the hospital’s specialized One-Stop Crisis Centre (OCC) to provide comprehensive, trauma-informed care.
Dr. Monika Khondokar, a dedicated physician at the DMCH One-Stop Crisis Centre, provided insights into the patient’s deeply concerning health status. “Until yesterday, she was experiencing shortness of breath, but her condition is somewhat stable now,”
Dr. Khondokar stated to The Daily Star, indicating the severe physical toll the ordeal has taken on the victim. The attending physician further noted the visible evidence of trauma, stating, “There are injury marks on her body”. The medical team is currently awaiting the results of comprehensive medical examinations.
“We can confirm the rape allegations once we receive the forensic results,
“Dr. Khondokar affirmed, underscoring the critical medical and legal processes currently underway to document the extensive abuse the victim reported.
The tragic sequence of events began with what appeared to be a promising opportunity for overseas employment. According to the emigration clearance card issued by the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), which was reviewed by reporters, the victim received her official emigration clearance on March 9 of this year.
However, the reality of her employment was allegedly a calculated deception. In statements provided to both the dedicated staff at the One-Stop Crisis Centre and local law enforcement authorities, the victim unequivocally pointed the finger at the recruitment agency responsible for her deployment.
She directly accused Md Badruzzaman, the managing director of the Motijheel-based recruitment firm Soar Travels Limited, of orchestrating her travel to the Kingdom under the false pretext of securing her a legitimate visa for domestic help.
According to the deeply troubling account shared by the victim’s husband, his wife arrived in Saudi Arabia on March 12, believing she would be undertaking standard household chores as stipulated in her initial employment agreement.
The reality she faced upon disembarking, however, was a stark and immediate violation of those terms. Instead of being placed in a residential home for domestic work, the woman was abruptly taken to a remote location and forced into grueling agricultural labour, specifically tasked with herding goats in the unforgiving conditions of the desert.
The extreme and punishing heat of the desert environment proved unbearable for the thirty-one-year-old woman. Desperate and suffering under the harsh climate, she managed to contact her husband back in Bangladesh to inform him of the drastic discrepancy between her promised job and the brutal reality she was enduring. This initial communication prompted her husband to immediately apply pressure on the travel agency to rectify the situation.
Approximately ten to twelve days after her arrival and subsequent forced labour in the desert, the victim was finally relocated to a residential house. Tragically, this relocation did not bring an end to her suffering but instead marked the beginning of an even more horrific chapter of her ordeal. The victim alleged that upon arriving at the house, she was entirely denied any of the household chores she was originally contracted to perform. Instead, she described a nightmarish scenario of captivity and relentless violence.
“I was not given any household work there,” the deeply traumatized woman stated in a harrowing video message that was subsequently provided to both the One-Stop Crisis Centre personnel and investigating police officers.
She revealed that she was kept forcibly locked inside a room against her will. In her video testimony, she alleged that during this period of confinement, between five to seven different men would enter the room every single day to subject her to brutal physical torture and repeated instances of rape.
The exact logistical details of how the severely abused woman managed to ultimately escape her horrific captivity remain somewhat unclear at this time.
The victim communicated to the staff members at the One-Stop Crisis Centre that her husband had personally travelled to Saudi Arabia in a desperate bid to rescue her and facilitate her safe return to Bangladesh.
While further specific details regarding the exact mechanics of this rescue operation were not immediately available, the financial extortion involved in her repatriation has been explicitly documented.
After receiving the distressing reports of the severe physical and sexual abuse from his wife, the frantic husband once again approached Soar Travels Limited, fiercely demanding that they arrange for her immediate return home.
The agency’s response, however, was to demand a significant sum of money. According to the husband’s account, the travel agency initially demanded an exorbitant payment of Tk 1 lakh simply to secure her return ticket.
Following an arduous period of negotiation and bargaining, the agency eventually agreed to accept a reduced sum of Tk 53,000. Only after this financial demand was met was the victim finally able to secure her passage home, successfully returning to Bangladesh on April 22.
The victim, who entered into marriage with her current husband approximately eight months ago, is also a mother to two children from a previous marriage, adding another layer of personal tragedy to the profound disruption and trauma inflicted upon her family.
As she continues to receive critical medical care and psychological support, the focus is beginning to shift towards achieving justice and holding the perpetrators accountable.
Regarding the pursuit of formal legal action against those responsible for this devastating ordeal, the victim’s husband confirmed that they have not yet officially filed a police case.
He emphasized, however, that they are fully intending to do so in the near future, pending necessary consultations with law enforcement officials and legal counsel to ensure the strongest possible case.
Meanwhile, attempts to obtain a response from the accused parties have thus far been entirely unsuccessful.
Despite multiple efforts to reach him for comment regarding these severe allegations, Md Badruzzaman, the Managing Director of Soar Travels Limited, has remained unavailable over the phone.
The disturbing reports surrounding this case underscore a critical need for rigorous oversight of recruitment agencies, as echoed in ongoing coverage of such abuses.
