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An estimated 90,000 Bangladeshis working in the small Gulf kingdom of Bahrain now face an uncertain future after the Bahraini Interior Ministry on Monday announced it would not renew their work permits once they expired.
The decision was taken after a Bahraini national was murdered by a Bangladeshi man in Hamad Town just outside the capital Manama.
Bahrain, as well as all the other Gulf nations, depends on foreign laborers, since the indigenous populations lack both the skills and experience to perform most of the tasks associated with modern life.
The expat workers can be found in occupations ranging from domestic and construction workers to computer technicians and company executives.
News of the plan has left the Bangladeshi community in a state of shock and many feel that it is wrong to punish all of them for the crimes of one man, especially since this is not the first time that a Bahraini has been killed by a Bangladeshi.
The local newspaper, Gulf Daily News, published an article listing the previous cases in which Bangladeshis have been involved. In addition the newspaper also presented the results of an online survey in which 90 percent of the participants supported the decision not to renew the work permits.
While many local governments understand the need for expat workers for the national economy, many have begun to fear that local culture and habits will disappear due the huge numbers of foreigners.
Many of the foreigners have been in the region for a long time, and in the case of white workers they have brought their families with them, thus becoming a society within the society with their own schools, restaurants and community centers.
In neighboring Dubai the Emiratis are now a minority in their own country.
Most governments of the Gulf nations have tried to stem the trend by running campaigns encouraging locals to take up positions now held by foreigners, but so far the results have been meager.