Mohammad Ramzan Ali Mian, a professor who studied Arabic language and literature, reached Qatar in 2007, a destination country for Nepalese.
Having studied Arabic literature and Islamic philosophy, he went to Qatar with the desire to work and understand more in that field. Regarding the reason for choosing Qatar, Mohammad Ramzan says, "I went to Bahrain to participate in a seminar." At first, I only came with the idea of traveling. Later, the desire to understand the Arab environment, lifestyle and law of Qatar arose.
Ramzan presented the problems of Nepali workers through an article in Arabic language in a magazine there. He presented his perspective focusing on the problems faced by Nepali people for employment and solutions.
After reading the article written in Arabic language, the security agencies became interested in the employed Nepalis. Based on the matter mentioned in the article, Ramzan was summoned by the security agencies. He was asked about the problems faced by the Nepalese, "Are the Nepalese facing problems as you have written?"
He replied, "I have written this based on the workers who reported problems while working at the Nepali Embassy." He suggested to solve the problem by studying it.
While working at the embassy, Mohammad Ramzan used to listen to many problems of Nepali youths who were employed. The youth used to come to the embassy and express their pain every day.
When Ramkaji Khadka was acting head of the Nepali Embassy in Qatar, Ramzan was his private secretary. The Qatari government agency asked him to act as an employee to solve the labor problem. He told the Qatari government agency that he can help as a volunteer but not as an employee. He became an employee of the embassy in the middle of 2007 and remained employed until the end of the same year.
Nepalese leaders started gathering for the rescue, relief and legal assistance of the Nepalis in trouble. Mohammad Ramzan became the coordinator in the Qatar National Human Rights Commission on behalf of Nepalese. He also became the coordinator of Nepali Help Desk of Qatar Human Rights Commission.
After joining the Human Rights Commission there, he increased his relationship with the National Human Rights Commission in Nepal. A working agreement was reached between the human rights commissions of the two countries (Nepal-Qatar).
Mohammad Ramzan has established himself among the Nepali community from different areas. Ramzan is a legal consultant who is constantly active in the rights, rescue, translation, etc. of workers who are in Qatar for foreign employment.
He has translated the language for the purpose of explaining Qatar's labor law to the workers. Ramzan contributed by translating labor guide, labor law of Qatar, human rights related topics. In order for Nepali workers to understand their rights, Qatar's labor law from Arabic was translated into Nepali in 2009.
"I saw/heard hundreds of cases when I was at the help desk of the Nepali Embassy in Qatar and the National Human Rights Commission in Qatar," Mohammad Ramzan says.
Workers who come to Qatar for employment face problems of different nature. Mohammad Ramzan says that the victims come with problems such as non-payment of wages, exploitation of workers, violation of human rights, and gender violence. He said that by coordinating with the concerned parties to solve the problem, initiatives are being taken continuously to give justice and rights to the victims.
He narrates the compulsion of Nepali workers to work on the minimum wage. There is no discrimination in wages for skilled workers. The non-implementation of the minimum wage is due to the lack of skills and abilities of the workers,' says Mohammad Ramzan.
Ramzan has also led the work of connecting the Nepali community with various local organizations in Qatar. He says that he has played a role in connecting the Nepali community with various organizations including Qatar Charity, Qatar Foundation, Rota, Red Crescent, Olympic Committee, Qatar Radio. Qatar Charity and Red Crescent offices have been established in Nepal. Both these organizations are non-governmental organizations that provide humanitarian services.
Mohammad Ramzan, who has been advocating for migrant workers, has also been involved in promoting Nepal in Qatar. He said that he has been working as a coordinator on behalf of Nepal in the national days of Qatar.
"I have been doing activities to increase the identity of Nepal by keeping Nepali identity, costumes and Nepali art and culture at the forefront," he said. According to him, Ramzan has been suggesting the Qatari side to visit and study Nepal to bring Qatari investment into Nepal.
With Qatar's Ministry of Art and Culture, he has also provided consultation to both sides on the Qatar-Nepal agreement, trade MoU, etc. He is of the opinion that Nepal should find a way of cooperation and cooperation with Qatar through diplomatic channels in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure development, energy, water resources, etc.
"We should be able to have a solid action plan with Qatar to deliver the goods produced in Nepal to Qatar's market," Mohammad Ramzan says, "Nepal is suffering a huge trade loss every year because import-export is not easy and results are not achieved."
Mohammad Ramadan collected about 30 million Qatari riyals through Qatar Television for the relief of the earthquake in 2072. A call for cooperation was made by putting up a banner titled 'We stand with Nepal' on Qatar television.
On his own initiative, Qatari businessman Nasser Al Ali and other businessmen and Nepali businessmen were able to cooperate in the situation caused by the earthquake and Corona. Mohammad Ramzan remembers this collaboration as an unforgettable act of his life.
Mohammad Ramzan, who was originally a Gorkha, was born in Kathmandu. Born in Kageshwari Municipality and became a permanent resident of Mahalakshmi Municipality in Lalitpur, Ramzan has passed 48 years.
He got his higher education from Pakistan. In the year 2003, he completed his MA in Arabic Literature from Islamic Studies Karachi University, Karachi.
A book for workers to understand the law
Mohammad Ramzan, who holds a master's degree in Arabic language and literature, has written books in Arabic, Nepali and English languages.
In addition to writing books in Nepali, Urdu, English and other languages, more than 40 books have been published.
With the aim of making it easier for Nepalese workers to understand the law, Qataris have helped by translating the Labor Act into Nepali. He translated Qatar's Labor Act 2009 into Nepali. Other books he has written to help migrant workers include Qatar I Saw, Traffic Laws of Qatar, Use of Time, Modern Arabic Language Trainer, Labor Rights Handbook, Labor Act of Qatar 2016, Urdu Nepali Dictionary etc.
In addition, Ramzan has published textbooks in Nepali language including the State of Qatar Migrant Worker's Guide, the Legal Rights of Qatari Domestic Workers, Arabic Language Knowledge, Human Rights Standards for Housing of Temporary Workers in the Construction Sector, Human Rights Guides in Detention and Punishment and Correctional Institutions, Qatar's Residential and Immigration Law 2005, Qatar's Residential and Immigration Law 2015.
Mohammad Ramzan, who has been continuously raising his voice for the rights of workers for 19 years, has been honored with dozens of awards. He has been honored and rewarded for his contributions in the fields of language translation, human rights, social service, literature, etc.
Lilu Dumre is working in the political bureau of Online Khabar.
