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Thousands of migrant workers have died since Qatar was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Read their story.
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Blankspot – a platform for investigative journalism – presents “Cards of Qatar” – a catalogue of football cards, that instead of player facts tell the stories of the workers who never returned. Read more
THE CARDS
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Shohag Madbar
1990—2020
Years
of
Age
30
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Shohag Madbar
1990—2020
On May 15, 2020, migrant Shohag Madbar died at his room at the age of 30. The death certificate from the Qatari government mentiones the cause of death as a “heart attack”.
Due to the uncertain job situation and the irregular wage, Shohag lived with a constant tension. The family believes the pressure caused a “mental shock”.
When asked, Shohag’s uncle Md Kamal Uddin said that the family had been struggling since his death.
– Shohag’s father who is a farmer his mother and their two daughters lost all dreams when they sent their only young breadearner to Qatar.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Nuruddin Echar Uddin
1984—2020

Years
of
Age
36
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Nuruddin Echar Uddin
1984—2020
On January 30, an air conditioning system exploded in the kitchen where Nuruddin worked.
One month later, the family received his body from Qatar, where he had traveled four years earlier to work as a chef.
His wife says that during the ten years she was married to Nuruddin, she almost never met him.
- We got married over the phone when he worked in Dubai and we barely met a few days during our ten-year marriage, says Mosamamat Nazma Akter Beauty Chowdhury who is 26.
Now she has to support the family alone.
- My only wish now is for our two sons to be able to stay in school.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of
Manjur Kha Pathan
1981—2021

Years
of
Age
40
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of
Manjur Kha Pathan
1981—2021
Manjur Kha Pathan from Nepal died in Qatar on February 9, 2021, at the age of 40 years. His death certificate issued states that the heart disease was “unspecified” and it does not provide information about the underlying causes.
His brother Ahmed Hussain told Amnesty International that Manjur worked as a truck driver and that he was healthy. They often talked about his job, and he complained about long working days, the heat and that the air conditioning in the truck was often broken.
But he never complained about his health.
Because he died at home and not at work, the case is not covered by the compensation laws in Qatar.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Zohorul Islam
1997–2020

Years
of
Age
23
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Zohorul Islam
1997–2020
Zohorul’s death in Qatar couldn’t have happened at a worse time. The family was even before his death passing through economic hardship.
They had borrowed money from a local NGO, moneylenders and relatives to send Zohorul to Qatar to work as a cleaner.
Rina Akter, elder sister, and Sharmin Akter, younger sister, of Zohorul claimed that their only brother did not have any previous health complications or diseases in Bangladesh.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of
Phurparani Tamang
1996—2021

Years
of
Age
25
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Nepal
In memory of
Phurparani Tamang
1996—2021
After a mandatory medical examination, Phurparani Tamang was considered completely healthy and received her work visa.
– Once in Qatar, she got a job as a cleaner, which she was happy with because she did not have to work outside in the sun, says her mother.
One day she was taken to the hospital.
– She told us there was no reason to worry. But a few days later I learned that she had died. I just cannot believe she's gone.
Her body landed at Kathmandu airport just four days after she died and her mother traveled there to receive it.
– Our daughter who went to support her family, left full of life, and came home dead.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Monir Hossain
1988—2020

Years
of
Age
32
World
Cup
Qatar
22
cardsofqatar.com
Migrant worker
Bangladesh
In memory of
Monir Hossain
1988—2020
Monir Hossain died on April 16, 2020 in Qatar due to an electric shock. He had worked for three years for a company as a painter. The 28-year-old widow Fatima Begum says that she has now moved in with her dead husband's parents.
- I am worried how I can afford to pay for my children's education, she says.
The entire family in the Cumilla district of southeastern Bangladesh is now having a difficult time.
- The official explanation is that it was an “accident” but they do not have any further details.
The family now gets help from the neighbors to cope with the daily expenses.
— told to the journalistic platform Blankspot
FULL STORY
cardsofqatar.com