A Bangladeshi national who went missing after overstaying his work visa has been arrested in Rakiraki, Fiji.
Authorities confirmed to the Fiji Times that Rakib, who previously worked for a construction company in the area, was found hiding in a makeshift shack near Naivuvuni village. He is believed to have been in hiding for about three months.
Police say Rakib befriended a villager and convinced him to let him stay on his farm, where he established a small vegetable garden and sold produce to earn a living. He was arrested over the weekend with the assistance of Fiji Police and now faces deportation.
The case has drawn attention to the growing number of Bangladeshi migrant workers in Fiji. Last year, Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua told Parliament that Bangladeshis were issued the highest number of work permits between January and July 2024 — 713 out of 2009 permits. Most are employed in the construction and manufacturing sectors.
According to the International Organisation for Migration, the number of Bangladeshis entering Fiji on short- and long-term permits has risen sharply since 2017, making them the second most prominent nationality granted work-related permits in 2019.
Bangladesh’s economy relies heavily on migrant workers, with remittances ranking as the country’s top source of foreign revenue after the garment industry. In September 2024 alone, Bangladesh recorded US$2.405 million (FJ$5.4 million) in remittances.
Globally, Bangladeshi migrant workers have faced exploitative conditions in countries including Malaysia and Thailand, often as a result of unscrupulous recruitment practices.
A 2024 United States Trafficking in Persons report noted that workers from Bangladesh and India are also exploited in Fiji, particularly in small farms, factories, construction, and timber sectors.
The International Labour Organisation estimates there were 167 million international migrant workers worldwide in 2022, accounting for 4.7 per cent of the global labour force. Fiji has ratified several ILO conventions promoting fair work standards and protections against forced labour.
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