The Bangladeshi Town With A Singapore Dream

In the town of Baluchar, Bangladesh, you can find marks of Singapore’s influence. A crockery shop - inspired by NTUC FairPrice - set up by a former construction worker; a sawmill, which helped improve life for townsfolk. But less visible are those who failed to realise the Singapore dream - one man left with a mountain of debt, another made to return against his will.
Why did some make it and others didn’t?
Life After Singapore explores what happens to migrant workers after they leave Singapore. CNA Insider producers Goh Chiew Tong and Ray Yeh travelled to Bangladesh - where many of Asia's migrant workers are from - to find out more.
THE SERIES:
'He Got Too Famous': A Migrant Worker Poet Pays The Price
• 'He Got Too Famous': A...
The Migrant Worker Who Founded A Polytechnic
• The Migrant Worker Who...
An Overview
• Life After Singapore F...
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[@waykee33]

Singaporeans should be thankful for the workers that help build our country. Actually a lot of the foreign labour workers are nice people.

[@waykee33]

@GAN BOON MENG Are you referring to the more well-to-do ones?

[@RA-id1cg]

Yep thanks to them because even locals dont want to do these jobs anymore.

[@RH-vd3yu]

@GAN BOON MENG so is the China people

[@RedPhilip0912]

sagent6 Some are nice some arent. I recently saw a foreign worker intentionally swing his arm forward to molest an unsuspecting chinese girl at the mrt station. Also, if youve been to the workers dorms places like in toh guan, you can see litter strewn along the sidewalk. They are turning our country into theirs.

[@benteoh87]

Yes I do agree! Which is why I don’t understand why work Permits aren’t allowed to work after 10 years. This law should be reviewed and allow them to at least appeal!

[@Aniwazoa]

That last story was harsh. Imagine putting everything to get to work in Singapore only to be left in debt. So sad.

[@BryanBGG]

we need to find the agent!

[@Aniwazoa]

@@BryanBGG indeed!

[@nazmetv]

I agree, lets work this.

[@fifaworld95]

Anyway we could work this out ?

[@periwinkleRin]

Sad feel sorry for him. Hope he find his way

[@jaywu7078]

As a Singaporean, I said sorry for some Singaporean disliked them in any public area or in the MRT, I appreciate for their hard work in building this nation and having a roof for us to stay. I can't say any more but to say Thank you ! May Allah blessed you all.

[@telukpaku4296]

In the 70's right through the 90's most work are done by Singaporeans in every sector,my generation help build this nation too, not behind a desk or in an aircon room but toiling under the sun and the rain,we were like brothers in arms back then. Tq

[@tashfickk]

I'm a bangladeshi, singapore PR and I have been here for more than 10 years. I didn't even know about such stories from my own country. Thank you for the video!

[@johnjohn1-y3f]

From your comment, I can tell that you are an ATAS Bangladeshi who is a bit out of touch with your countrymen suffering. Unsure what is ATAS? Find out from local Singaporeans what does this slang mean.

[@tashfickk]

@@johnjohn1-y3f no I'm not an atas Bangladeshi and I know what it means . Haha. Because all the people here are from outside the city(I only visit the city) so we don't even get to see them or know about them.

[@alvinlim7364]

Tashfique, i hope you do not get the view that all Singaporeans are like johntora1. I am sorry that you are a victim of his harsh words.

[@tashfickk]

@@alvinlim7364 haha well I have lived more than half my life here. So yeah I have met nice people and also the opposite.

[@Aydee2020]

@@johnjohn1-y3f What the fuck is your problem lol

[@wyltzz]

Thank you to those Bangladesh workers in Singapore.Really appreciate 🙏

[@waneshi67]

Respect to those bangladeshi workers.Thank you for keeping my country green.Without you people who else wants to work.Unlike us singaporeans can't do dirty and stand in a hot weather.We should learn like them how to survive.We should be thankful of what we have here.May allah bless the bangladeshi people.

[@buangbinyaakub9421]

Rubbish. Just an escuse to bring more foreign workers

[@francisalbertpineda2185]

This is true, fresh from University i moved to Singapore at the age of 21 and worked for one company for 11 years .last 2017 i was retrenched, Short notice limited time to look another company until i have to go back.packed all my stuff and memories I have to start all over again in The Philippines. It took me a year to cope, in able for me to get the same momentum,motivation and drive to work because I’m home sick.Singapore is my second home and I will be forever thankful for the chance to meet such a wonderful people,bosses that treat me as family member, genuine local friends to keep, and opportunity to learn and develop my self. While working i started helping some SME for their social media and studying Masters. Fast forward, i able to secure a better position here in The Philippines with almost same salary range. If given a chance to travel anytime soon i will only choose Singapore 🇸🇬

[@AniruddhaAdhikary]

Thank you CNA Insider team for covering these stories. It's very inspiring to see the men leaving everything behind to support their families and pulling up Bangladesh with their earnings. Subscribed for more inspiration!

[@CNAInsider]

Glad you enjoyed this video - thank you for your support and look out for more videos coming your way!

[@Kacylolgg]

I really loved the story from Singapore........ Love to Bangladeshis 🇧🇩

[@mindful47]

When I was in junior college, my Geography teacher told us , "You must thank the foreign workers, if not Singapore wouldn't be where it is today." If not for my teacher's reminder , many youngsters like me back then would have taken for granted many things. Teachers should really send the right messages about our foreign workers.

[@samuellow2464]

These men are the true inspirations. Not the ones sitting in the comforts of armchair general seats. Bless these hard workers and I hope life rewards them well for their efforts against all adversity.

[@Thebass26]

Us singaporeans needs to respect them and don't look down on them..

[@sian1of2]

I agree. We are just lucky to be born here. Everyone is just trying to live. Be good to one another and make the world a better place.

[@shuen2732]

i dont agree with the way one of the interviewees was portrayed as "unable to move on". this documentary did nothing much to describe his circumstance in him hometown and painted him in a negative light for simply wanting for return to work in Singapore . you stated that he is unable to get a job in his hometown, then naturally he would hope for his old job back? the tone of the vid also seems a bit arrogant. this is a very interesting narrative! only hope that the topic could be treated with more empathy. singapore is an ideal city to them, but it cant be that ideal city if not for the migrant workers who are willing to do the important labour that many sgeans are unwilling to do. we gotta be grateful to them too.

[@ArnaPrints]

actuallyy, i was there for months and malaysia for vacation, and 10 yrs later the way i speak to my son in english tones like singapore tone because i admire it.

[@lionofjudahpeace1442]

Singapore must not send them home when they are still paying off what they borrow to work here. It is so cruel. A 10 years visa is good for them to be able to pay back save n be comfortable when go home. Hope to see more kind bosses who hire them. God will surely bless you to be kind to them. Sg is so bless because they are generous to the poor. Keep doing good deeds when you are in a able to. God bless the kind souls. Be kind to n gladful to this workers who build our HDB n roads n clean our streets when we all Singaporean can enjoy. Cook extra n bless the one who clean your floors.

[@itsjustabigailify]

Thank you. They are builders for the nation , many of us can enjoy a roof over our head bacause of them . Thank you for the work , effort and sweat. These stories shows that absolutely nothing - even your circumstances should dampen a dream , for better for for worse .

[@fxrisxmxli]

I am happy that his experience here benefited him at his hometown, improving his life.

[@Mariam-me5tn]

One thing that makes me really sad is, Bangladesh is a country where most migrant workers come from, this often leads to them being exploited in many countries. Even top brands have companies in Bangladesh with poor wage and working conditions, it’s not fair on the people that they have a corrupt government who don’t take care of them, so they become desperate to live a decent quality of life in another country. I really want to see Bangladeshi people work comfortably in their own country, and build it up into something amazing, but we’re still far from it :(

[@cia9142]

It's so good to see them achieving their goals and having a good time here in Singapore. The story where the family invited him to their birthday party touched me too as I know there's people out there who is actually friendly and care for them. Thank you all so much for risking your life for one of the toughest job, building things for us, Building Singapore so beautifully :) last story was really upsetting for me though, hope we can help in any way possible

[@precisionsparkz]

Amazing production bringing these stories to light, showing both the good and the bad. Well done CNA's Goh Chiew Tong and Ray Yeh.

[@CNAInsider]

Thanks for the encouragement! :)

[@MdRashid-th1fg]

I salute to Singapore from India really respect to Singaporeans

[@clairexchoco]

The narration on Yusof's story seems to imply that he has no plans, because "unlike yusof... shahidul has one"... But yusof came from a more disadvantaged background, didn't he? It's flawed to place judgements on the way their circumstances turned out and as much as CNA tried to be neutral, you're failing at it

[@dark.jedi9091]

Exactly

[@lilychua7866]

It was obvious that the agent cheated him of a large commission and it is sad that neither country’s government helped him.

[@VictorThang-b5p]

Bangladeshis is a very hard-working 💪 people❤❤❤.

[@urbaniteurbanizer1612]

Bravo CNA for another good short documentary. Keep up the good work. From a fan in Malaysia

[@Irkkan]

I swear bangladeshi are the BEST foreign workers we singaporean having!!! They hardly create trouble, soft spoken, very humble, listen to others, polite and many more. A lot or prolly all of them are muslims. Kudos to them for working hard to earn an honest living. If you can’t differentiate bangladeshi and indian ft, you are not singaporean enough hahah

[@The_Noblesse]

Oh ho.... Bangladesh is better? What about Indonesians or Filipinos

[@raizan8493]

im a safety coordinator n i knw who is indians n Bangladeshi...now local safety dnt have jobs..they indians n bangla become safety...frm SC to RSO to safety managers..trainers auditors

[@rajarajacholankulothukanra8402]

If too many bangaladesi workers here we all die then we go where bangaladeshi is it.

[@debl5848]

Happy for him. These migrant workers worked hard for their families back home. Good to know he got a fair go ie insurance for his injuries. Some agents are dreadful. They give the country a bad image.

[@abbiewinters97]

There used to be one young bangladeshi worker who cleans my block. He used to come and hang out with us when he's free and celebrated his birthdays with us because he said that he's alone here and have no one with him. Such a nice guy. We were all very sorry when he had to go back. I wonder how he's doing now.

[@chocolatesprout]

Thank you for sharing both the successes and the failures. Both sides are always needed for an accurate picture!

[@fairuzkermari5785]

A big thank you to all the foreign workers who've toiled and contributed to the progress and prosperity of my beloved Singapore.

[@kcfmark]

We too have many Bangladeshis working in our country. Hope that they will improve their lives when they return to their country.

[@vnc81]

Its so ironic that some foreigners loved Sg so much more than some locals.

[@akdailybloge]

Thank you CNA for publishing this kind of truth.

[@raymondchew8894]

Most foreign migrant workers are nice people and contribute to Singapore. Hope they will prosperous when they go back to their country..

[@MonirulIslam-1989]

Thank you so much cna team🙏

[@cdplayerman]

This is a well-made documentary. It covers both sides of the spectrum.

[@Onemessagefoundationismyfav]

This is such a shame and it’s not only Singapore but many other countries in the world... No one should treat human beings as disposable objects. Really heart breaking.

[@medialcanthus9681]

One Bangladesh worker (who installed a kitchen cabinet in my former flat) told me some of his countrymen have 3 storey houses (n bathrooms bigger than our rooms), and another worker (who installed flooring of my former house ) said he managed to provide good dowries for his 2 elder sisters.. I was so impressed.

[@zarinepeter5716]

That sounds good. But the question is why are they still paying dowries? This is hard earned money that can be invested into the family's future. Unless the culture of the country evolves and removes all the old biases and stumbling blocks, such as the dowry system, the nation will not progress. Gender bias against women is still very strong in Bangladesh.

[@mshohel02]

Thanks CNA for making this report.

[@chenyenyu88]

Thank you workers, appreciate your hard work.

[@noorirwan686]

Bangladeshi are good people. I remembered when i was 13 n lack a dollar to board the bus home. I approached our aunties n uncles but all walked away dont wanna hear me out but i try approaching a bangladeshi worker n he gave me $1.50 n im able to go home😊

[@hellonoitsfine9681]

Thanks😅😂

[@amber-eb5yb]

proud to have a Bangladeshi father💕

[@happybuddhi9290]

Remember they are also human beings. Treat them with respect and equally. No one is above anyone.

[@alamahmed9858]

Thanks CNA. I Love Singapore.

[@Tramuntanamaki]

Salam to my Bangali brother learn from Singapore,how to make bengaladish great like Singapore. Learn to be the masters of your destiny, and not slaves for visas. Means learning the fundamentals of success. Education,education and education and Laws above all. Respect to others who are different race or religion or color

[@assassinskillz123]

Feel sorry for my Bangladeshi brothers we here in Britain don’t know how blessed we are

[@Paulfrankfriend]

I found these video’s commentary (by CNA script Writers), too negative on some of interviewees.

[@weareorigin]

Good stories. I find it a bit sad, for them to see a paradise, then they left to return to their poverty areas.

[@reagancapwell685]

The poverty is changing because some are coming back with new hope and perspective.

[@dtlim2920]

Hello , is there anyway we can help one of the families? Are you allowed to give some details on them? Thanks.

[@The_Noblesse]

Hope they've a GoFundMe page

[@Andy-eb1hq]

Help me

[@mariamaria7796]

Yusuf n Jamal poor thing. I dnt understand why Yusuf is denied a job visa..Ge hd 10 years experience n only 33 years old.

[@yca4309]

Stories of the unsung heroes who support our gleaming metropolis :(

[@zafreeViv]

Thanks cna.very inspiring. I'm malaysian working singapore. Stays in jb. Maybe you could probably make a same documentary bout the 400,000 malaysian working in sg.

[@soshification]

Always pleased to have you guys work here in sg. However, the issue is your pm always finding trouble with us xD

[@arcencielc2065]

I am glad that those FW can provide a better life for themselves and their families.

[@annecorey607]

Very smart guy and good business man he know what to do with his job thank you for sharing your beautiful story very good thank you

[@sahadeen2900]

Nice video..thanks for uploading.

[@mominulhoque1511]

Thanks 😘😘 cna

[@cliftonaurelius3060]

What's sad is that it took an accident with an insurance payout that gave one of them this opportunity. Without such "accidents" how many of them can pursue their dreams?

[@ladderenjoyer]

Can we donate to the guy in a heavy dept

[@Chocpudding94]

More such stories please!

[@piqueny8872]

How did the last guy manage to get married have kids knowing he’s in debt?! These poor kids

[@SEEDOEATTV]

Nice Video!

[@vincentkhoo7088]

Watching this as a fresh Gradz im gratefull for everything

[@citylyricsprincess]

This video was good until they had to put him on a negative light on the later part of the video? Like it's not that saddening? He's happy doing what he loves and that's all that matters. He's been through some challenges and fame can get to some people but they don't have to make his story that negative, that's just life in general. Life in Bangladesh is different from that in Singapore, so success can mean different to them. He just doesn't know how to utilise his talents to receive more money that's all. Life is not all about money you know, and I'm very happy he's living his dream life that he had when he was a young boy. How many of us can say that? I'm also glad he also realised that you just need to face reality when faced with roadblocks.

[@timelapsesofsingapore5674]

Singapore - The almost perfect country

[@joynalabedin-jh3nc]

Thanks for .videos.. Cna

[@weepeng]

is there anything or has any one set up to help Jamal? I would love to join.

[@EnjoyYouTube]

If you are still willing to help, I can contact Jamal. Please let me know.

[@amru2895]

The only matters of CNA videos is too short...the rest is best 👍👃❤️

[@limwilson4906]

Borrow to work in Singapore is to risky. Either become better or worse. No guarantee work in Singapore will have better life. It's a big gamble

[@WahidaZaman]

Love you Singapore ❤

[@beNic3-bdy]

I think bangla will be succesful business man like chinese if they gat a change.

[@honolulu7793]

Say Bengali or Bangladeshi,not Bangla, Bangla is a name of language not ethnicity

[@icebear1342]

6:00 isit just me or he look like yusof ishak

[@tanjeffrey9396]

😂NTUC ? ? ? I Love it 😅❤

[@springleaves4958]

So sad to see the struggles of people.

[@SohelRana-ji5xk]

Nice .and good history

[@shnabiha]

Is there anyway that to help Jamal paying his debt through donation? Like launchgood or something?

[@sandrinesentamijeselvane9348]

What can we do to help them? Their situation is dramatic. Bangla is the most corrupted country in the world. By coming to Singapore, they don't earn a good salary in order to live decently (I mean 400-600 dollars per month for some). Plus, the company they are working for takes the migrant's passport so they make sure they can not go anywhere (also on holidays for some) and the company offer them a dirty area to live, cook and sleep. It has to change, we need to wake up, protest or do something. Those migrant workers are living and working like slave. No one has to live in that way #savethemigrant

[@ramyavelsri844]

Hi guys u can take video in Tamil Nadu becoz many people who works in Singapore even my husband also work in Singapore

[@sweetyangelcake7274]

indian is stinky lol Indian as in India Indian or sg Indian or Canadian Indians it’s different for your info. India Indian eat curry sg Indian eats non Indian food Canadian Indian eats western food and don’t even know Indian language

[@lavaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Sweetyangel Cake what the heck are your trying to say

[@strawberrycupcake6396]

@@lavaaaaaaaaaaaa keep saying. even prime minister of indian said Toilet first Temple later. hahahhahhaha.

[@Emy4316]

@@strawberrycupcake6396 I'm a half Indian, so I'm a half stinky? 😅 My dad is from Kerala while my mom is Indonesian. Do not worry, we have toilet, take a bath and brush our teeth twice a day...We live in Central Java, Indonesia

[@sweetyangelcake7274]

Lava aaa I’m trying to say that India Indians and Indians from other nations are different? What’s your problem?

[@tikus-sq4xi]

Fair play to all these men who are determined to achieve their dreams by taking a gamble. Yet there are thousands of bangladeshi men risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy. Once they've reached any European countries, they have won the lottery for life. They are entitled to housing, medical, clothes allowance, weekly welfare allowance, paid to have babies and unemployed. Under UN migration programme any countries in Europe who take them in are obliged to provide them with the above mentioned lists That's how easy it is and in 5 yrs time they will be citizens of EUROPE. They also get to bring their extended families to join them. At the moment europe is dwindling under the weight of mass immigration and the it's demograph is rapidly disappearing. The decimation of EUROPE is in full swing. l

[@SuccessforLifester]

I misread the title. I thought there is a town there named Singapore.

[@arrowstheorem1881]

The lady narrator speaks about Jamal's plight. But has she helped him pay his debt? If not, then everyone also can just say, oh Jamal so unfortunate. And do nothing about it

[@geraldine2458]

Cosmo John did you? If not I don’t think you got the right to judge people like that

[@geraldine2458]

Her job is to share their plight to the rest of the world. She’s not obligated to donate anything. Help him if you want instead of being a SJW. Yes, they are living under tough conditions but that doesn’t mean it IS mandatory for us to help them. helping is an option not a MUST.

[@geraldine2458]

You literally asked if she has helped him on his debt

[@kanfusheng1347]

lazt story very hard, wonder if the agents are even legit & reputable??

[@wqmf9356]

Singapore should respect workers, but understandable you can't give them a good job and housing (permanently). Singapore is FULL & there are already so many foreigners there. Can't blame them.

[@manchesterliverpool9818]

I am a contractor with around 15 workers from bangladesh . 80% of them are really really hard working . However i personally have encounter 2 black sheep . Trying to fake injury and claiming insurance $$$ . All of these r not being reported in the papers . The last encounter was really bad . The worker claim that he have a very bad back injury but during MC can go to airport to fetch this fellow country man and attend a political event in singapore . What can i do ? The MOM says his MC are valid .

[@nuraishahanuar124]

Smart man!

[@hoopinproductions5121]

Good thing I can understand what they're saying without reading the subtitles.

[@crowe286]

What is the government doing with this country to help its people. Singapore then exploits these workers as second class citizens paying them less without a care. They do the work the locals refuse to do. Singapore's contruction rate owes a lot to these people taking 10yrs from each & should do more to truly help.

[@mpokanniesvlog320]

Now very different

[@newworldmrb7527]

Thanks for go bd

[@Timeflies.x]

the last dude is 1 million takas in debt. Holy shit.

[@xavierchen882]

Shouldn't the agent returned him most of the money as compensation?

[@walkaway6777]

didnt he gain too? didnt sg provided him opportunities?

[@icelin374]

Allow Yusof to work in Singapore again !!!!

[@akane012345]

I can't take how slow the reader speaks. I had to speed up the video by 1.25x...

[@RoyLimisAw3s0me]

Going to MY instead of SG for the second is an option; persisting to go to SG when you know you can't is insanity (cos the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different result).....

[@voyagerx11space16]

Before these migrants who build Singapore? Who contributed and help Singapore to become first World. REPORTER: BEFORE HE WENT TO SINGAPORE, NOTHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPENED. IF SINGAPORE IS SO BAD, WHY KEEP ON TRYING AGAIN AND AGAIN TO GO SG.? MAYBE THE OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO OTHERS LIKE ROHINGYA OR THOSE WHO WOULD APPRECIATE THE JOB OPPORTUNITY. INSTEAD OF ASKING SG TO APOLOGISE FOR THEIR THROWING OF FOOD.

[@botaqhead]

Birth control needs to be enforced on this kinds of poor nations.

[@giveaway999]

Singapur??? Apa nggak bosan?? Tinggal di Singapura 3 hari aja udah boring banget. Mending ke Malaysia aja. Di Malaysia 1 minggu terasa sangat singkat. Nggak tau kenapa tapi aku suka Malaysia. Kalo Singapur tempat nya gitu gitu aja

[@shaunghishing9965]

If you hate hard working people like that who is doing for the society and kids, you live in miserable world

[@kathbchin]

Your speaking is distinctively monotonous. Try to speak like the reporters at CNBC

[@jameshrlee]

Slipped disk from a forklift accident and only $40k?

[@captainreen_sky]

Why is she talking as if she reading of from a school book?

[@str2010]

That last one though... Sorry m8, but I think you've been scammed. There are a lot of those who take advantage of my country's job prospects for foreigners