Noyon standing in front of Dhaka airport. Noyon and his team have helped 34 thousand expatriates in various ways through the BRAC Migration programme. © BRAC 2022
We set a date to escape to the Bangladesh embassy. When that day arrived, 60 of us broke the glass windows and ran. We spread out in groups and walked for two hours. We had no money, so we couldn’t hire transport. Other people heard the news later and broke out at different times during the next day too – eventually there were 110 of us migrants at the embassy.
The staff arranged for us to stay at a shelter home, then the Bangladesh government stepped in, and, after a month, we were repatriated. The government worked to make the recruiting agency return our fees.
Coming back to the country saved my life, but I then faced another nightmare – I was seen as a failure. My father could not go out. People told him I wouldn’t be able to do anything in life.
I decided to move to Dhaka. I knew I had to tell my story and I also knew there were many others who had their dreams shattered like mine. I wanted to create awareness about migration.
I joined BRAC’s migration programme in 2017. Today, I lead the emergency support and reintegration programme for returnee migrants, and I have directly supported over 20,000 people. My father takes immense pride in my work.