They said the expatriate workers send a huge amount of remittance to the country through their hard work, but the government has no attention to their welfare, as they do not have voting power.

They were speaking at a discussion organised by Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi Employees (Warbe), in association with Migrant Forum in Asia, at the National Press Club on May 1.

"The Election Commission must take immediate steps to ensure expatriate's votes," said Warbe Chairman Syed Saiful Haque.

He said Bangladeshi expatriate workers are deprived of their due salaries in absence of agreements between Bangladesh and the receiving countries.

They demanded bilateral agreements on labour issues and ratification of UN Convention on migrant workers.

He also demanded repatriation of the Bangladeshi workers arrested in many countries of the world.

Bangladeshi Obhibashi Mohila Sramik Association Sheikh Roman demanded government steps to ensure security of the women migrant workers.

Bangladesh Krishak-Sramik Federation Coordinator Zahid Iqbal, Sammilita Sramik Federation President Abul Hossain, Warbe Secretary General Anisur Rahman Khan and Nahid Sultan, executive director of Shasti, an NGO, also spoke.