Embassy refuses custody of body of dead migrant worker

The Bangladeshi Embassy in the Maldives has refused to receive the body of a dead expatriate worker who was living and working in the country illegally.

The man was working in Lh. Hinnavaru and died in the hospital in Lh. Naifaru. Naifaru council President Mohamed Kaarim stated to the "Sun" that the man died in the evening of yesterday and had no visa or passport with him.

"We contacted the Bangladeshi Embassy regarding the issue of the dead worker and they said that illegal migrant workers were not an issue of their concern. We do not have permission to bury him in the island. So we are now working on sending his body to Male' for the mortuary." said Kaarim.

The migrant worker had gone to get treatment from the Hinnavaru medical center due to chest pains and was moved to Lh. Atoll Hospital later that night for further treatment. The man was working in the construction industry.