Banglar Kantha is the leading Bengali newspaper in Singapore. With an estimated population of half a million Bangladeshis working in Southeast Asia, and 120,000 in Singapore alone, Banglar Kantha gives voice to the dreams and needs of the Bangladeshi migrant workers and provides an outlet for creative and literary talent. Visit the BLOG ARCHIVE for more information.
Friday 18 November 2011
Sunday 6 November 2011
MOM visits TWC2 & Dibashram
Manpower ministry’s Tan Chuan-Jin visits TWC2 & Dibashram
Senior officials from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) met with Transient Workers Count Too this week on a fact-finding visit, engaging in fruitful and cordial discussions that broached a range of legal and workplace issues faced by low-skilled migrant workers in Singapore.
Led by Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin, some 10 civil servants visited TWC2 at the Suthas restaurant on Cuff Road, where part of the group’s eponymously named soup kitchen is run. The rare visit, on the evening of Tuesday, November 1, 2011, marked the first time a minister had come to see TWC2′s frontline operations since the group’s founding in 2004.
About three months earlier, soon after Mr Tan took on the post, TWC2 president Russell Heng had extended an invitation to the minister to come see TWC2′s activities on the ground. MOM confirmed they would be glad to visit when Russell met with the minister at ministry headquarters shortly after. That was when the minister, wanting to familiarise himself with his new portfolio, had organised a roundtable with all non-governmental bodies involved in migrant worker issues.
Tuesday night’s session at our Cuff Road project stretched nearly two hours, far longer than planned. TWC2 volunteers exchanged views with Mr. Tan and his phalanx of officials on a range of problems – from employment scams to bureaucratic kinks – that plague many migrant workers here. Both parties also agreed to strengthen collaboration between government with civil society on migrant-worker issues.
Russell, together with executive committee members Alex Au and Debbie Fordyce, led the sharing session, with contributions from others including social worker Kenneth Soh, and two migrant workers (Amran and Rashid) who described the difficulties they were in. The latter two told of their salary claims, workplace injury and accommodation issues faced not only by them but by many other workers. TWC2 volunteers also put forth policy alternatives that would go some way to addressing problems systemically.
The minister and his team – comprising policy makers, operations officers and communications executives – were attentive and receptive, probing TWC2 volunteers on their concerns and seeking details on the workers’ cases. While acknowledging administrative shortfalls and TWC2’s concerns, ministry officials also offered clarifications and counterpoints on policies, as well as insights into their thinking on migrant workers’ rights.
Mr. Tan expressed his appreciation for the work of TWC2 and other civil society groups in supporting migrant workers who have fallen through cracks, and recommended more regular and timely communication between officials and civil society on individual workers’ cases and identification of broader industry problems.
The discussions, which subsequently migrated to Dibashram on Rowell Road, a drop-in centre run by Debbie Fordyce and AKM Mohsin, publisher of Banglar Kantha, also drew a small crowd of mostly migrant workers, keen to witness the historic meeting unfolding before them. They knew their troubled stories were being told, but on a more hopeful note, they also sensed that the proceedings could have a profound impact on their lives. Here was a sign that TWC2′s work was paying off and that the government’s pledge of concern and commitment was real.
More photos from the visit:
Minister of State for Manpower Tan Chuan-jin is welcomed by TWC2 president Russell Heng
on arrival at Suthas restaurant where our Cuff Road free meals programme was running that
Tuesday evening
Mr Tan reads brief notes about Amran's and Rashid's cases, which typify many other cases
Mr Tan listens to Amran and Rashid as they provide additional details of their experiences
Amran, who had suffered a workplace injury and been out of work since December 2010,
describes the bureaucratic quagmire he was put in.
Other workers gather around as Kenneth, Debbie, Russell and Alex offer suggestions to
MOM officials
Minister checks facts with his officials
After one hour at Suthas, the entire group adjourned to Dibrashram for another hour of discussions,
going way beyond the allotted time
Debbie goes into considerable detail describing problems encountered by workers;
the minister remained fully engaged with the details
Mr Mohsin (at right) sits briefly beside the minister after having explained to him his work
publishing the Banglar Kantha newspaper
publishing the Banglar Kantha newspaper
Debbie exchanging final thoughts with Mr Tan as he prepares to leave
Photo credits: Doreen Siow
Friday 4 November 2011
Banglar kantha Current Issue November- December 2011 (Preview)
Latest issue of Banglar Kantha Newspaper
Acknowledgement of Banglar Kantha newspaper in Singapore
'A voice for Bangladeshi workers'
http://www.mypaper.sg
"Experience Singapore" and "Singapore Magazine" feature AKM Mohsin, the editor-in-chief of Banglar Katha, in the articles below.
"Experience Singapore" http://www.mfa.gov.sg/experience/. A newsletter of Singapore Cooperation Programme (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
"Singapore" Magazine http://singaporemagazine.sif.org.sg/ as presented by the Singapore International Foundation (for a better world)
Wednesday 19 October 2011
The accidental traveller - Din Islam - becomes celebrity of Singapore!
The case of Din Islam. This accidental traveller who fired the imagination of the public, with many tabloids and newspapers about his journey, represented a unique and ironic case in the history of journalism. Never has there been a story quite like this. The irony, and one of many, is that in the world context today, should it be all that surprising, with the current issues of climate change, financial crisis, globalisation, and mass migration that such an improbable and simple story has not arisen before!
On April 1st 2011, Din Islam, a young, innocent man, after finishing his chores at a port enters a cargo container with his friend to take a nap. On awaking they find themselves locked inside the darkness and on a journey that would leave his friend dead and himself released into the light of an almost celebrity like status in Singapore and around the world.
After 7 months away from his beloved friends and family, Din Islam is finally returning to his homeland on the 20th of October. Having been warmly embraced by his fellow Bangladeshi's and ready to leave, Din Islam appears the wiser for the ordeal and grateful for the experience. His last unfulfilled wish is to visit his friend Alamin's graveyard to say his final farewell.
For more on the Din Islam story, please read the links below (from the 13th April - 12th November 2011)
Source: Prothom Alo
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-11-12/news/200128
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-10-22/news/195730
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-10-20/news/195237
October 21st 2011
October 10th 2011
Source: Straits Times
April 17th 2011
Source: Straits Times
Found: Kin of dead man in container
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_657769.html
April 16th 2011
Source: Daily Star
Pot smoking was a factor
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=181772
Source: bdnews24.com
http://www.bdnews24.com/bangla/details.php?id=155762&cid=2
April 15th 2011
Source: Yahoo Singapore news
Smoke break led to horrific nine-day ordeal
Source: bdnews24.com
Smoking away fatigue has its hazards, too!
http://bdnews24.com/pdetails.php?id=19306
http://bdnews24.com/bangla/details.php?cid=2&id=155672&hb=4
Source: Straits Times
Men found in containers "had smoked marijuana"
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_657044.html
April 14th 2011
Source: Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Fatal rest in a container
see: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=181629#
Source: News.xin.com
Trapped for 3 weeks in container
http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4773030
Source: Straits Times (Singapore)
Trapped for 3 weeks in container
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_656211.html
On April 1st 2011, Din Islam, a young, innocent man, after finishing his chores at a port enters a cargo container with his friend to take a nap. On awaking they find themselves locked inside the darkness and on a journey that would leave his friend dead and himself released into the light of an almost celebrity like status in Singapore and around the world.
After 7 months away from his beloved friends and family, Din Islam is finally returning to his homeland on the 20th of October. Having been warmly embraced by his fellow Bangladeshi's and ready to leave, Din Islam appears the wiser for the ordeal and grateful for the experience. His last unfulfilled wish is to visit his friend Alamin's graveyard to say his final farewell.
For more on the Din Islam story, please read the links below (from the 13th April - 12th November 2011)
Source: Prothom Alo
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-11-12/news/200128
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-10-22/news/195730
http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-10-20/news/195237
October 21st 2011
October 10th 2011
Source: Straits Times
Bangladeshi container survivor gets send-off
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_721704.html
May- August 2011
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_721704.html
September 27th 2011
Source: Daily Star
Trapped in Ship Container
Alamin buried in distant land without tears
Source: bdnews24.com
Source: Straits Times
Found: Kin of dead man in container
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_657769.html
April 16th 2011
Source: Daily Star
Pot smoking was a factor
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=181772
Source: bdnews24.com
http://www.bdnews24.com/bangla/details.php?id=155762&cid=2
April 15th 2011
Source: Yahoo Singapore news
Smoke break led to horrific nine-day ordeal
Source: bdnews24.com
Smoking away fatigue has its hazards, too!
http://bdnews24.com/pdetails.php?id=19306
'গাঁজায় বুঁদ হয়ে' কনটেইনারে আটকা পড়ে দুই বন্দর শ্রমিক |
Source: Straits Times
Men found in containers "had smoked marijuana"
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_657044.html
April 14th 2011
Source: Daily Star (Bangladesh)
Fatal rest in a container
see: http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=181629#
Source: News.xin.com
Trapped for 3 weeks in container
http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4773030
Source: Straits Times (Singapore)
Trapped for 3 weeks in container
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_656211.html
Sunday 16 October 2011
Dibashram First Event 21st August 2011
Iftar Mahfil & Interaction session held between South East Asian Service Leadership Network (SEALNET) and Banglar Kantha Writer’s Forum
Qianying, the leader of SEALnet in Singapore said that the interaction is part of their mission to bring together migrant workers and local citizens, and to increase the awareness of Singaporeans about foreigners. She and the other SEALnet members were surprised that the Writers Forum are able to spend their leisure time creatively, creating poetry or literary pieces. The SEALnet used their time in Singapore to take photographs of migrant workers to exhibit on Orchard Road.
Source: Published news in Banglar Kantha, September – October 2011, Page 05
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