KOLKATA: West Bengal CID today brought back from Saudi Arabia a software engineer who was forced to work there as a cleaner.
Asraful Halque a BSc (I-T) and a resident of Bhalugram in Burdwan district's Mongalkote, was today brought back to the city from Daman by CID officials, who made arrangements to rescue him after receiving his e-mail, a senior officer of the force said.
Asraful had gone to Saudi Arabia through a Mumbai-based agency Akbar Overseas to work for a bank there as an I-T support staff.
On reaching Riyadh, Asraful's documents including passport, visas were snatched and he was forced to work for Saudi Credit and Savings Bank as house keeping staff by recruiter Al Mufti, another agency supplying labour and house keeping staff to different banks, the officer said.
"He was tortured when he refused to work. We started contacting the ministry of external affairs and authorities of Saudi Arabia after receiving an e-mail from Ashraful. After long persuasion the CID successfully arranged return of Asraful from Saudi Arabia," he said.
On reaching the city airport this morning, Ashraful thanked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying that he would "remain grateful to her for giving him a new lease of life by helping him return to the country."