Saudi-bound migrants in uncertainty over joining jobs

Several hundred migrant workers seeking to return to their workplaces on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia protested at the disruption of flights in the next consecutive day on Fri.

They said that Bangladesh Biman suddenly suspended its flights and Saudia Airlines was disrupting air travel operations and not cooperating with them to make sure their go back to the places in Saudi Arabia.

They said that without prior notice, Saudi Arabia imposed new restrictions to get migrants to check on the spread of coronavirus when their visa dates would soon expire.

To protest at the harassment, agitated migrants demonstrated at the SAARC fountain intersection and at Hazrat Shahjalal AIRPORT TERMINAL.

Among the agitators, Tushar Chowdhury came back home on February 11 to take pleasure from his four-month-long leave and was planned to come back to Saudi Arabia on May 31.

‘I found the Saudia Airlines business office to pick up my ticket at Karwanbazar however the business office is shut and no explanation was presented with by the authority in that situation,’ he said.

Nasir Uddin, another migrant who went to the airport terminal to avail his flight, said that he was scheduled to leave Dhaka on your day, in a airline flight of Saudia Airlines but he previously to return from the airport due to the flight got suspended.

‘If I neglect to join my place of work by in a few days, I will lose my task,’ he said.

Association of TRAVEL COMPANIES of Bangladesh executive vice-president Azharul Kabir Chowdhury said that above 4,000 migrants confirmed their tickets to go to Saudi Arabia within couple of days but suddenly introduced some new circumstances.

Migrants said they are at this point compelled to pay yet another Tk 70,000 for hotel quarantine as the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia was not cooperating with them.

Saudia Airlines authority could not be reached for responses.

United Information of Bangladesh reported that nationwide carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Thursday announced the suspension of it is flights to Saudi Arabia pertaining to five days.

All flights to Saudi Arabia will remain suspended till May 24, Biman Bangladesh Airlines said on a release.

The nationwide carrier has taken your choice following the Saudi authorities imposed the new conditions on international travellers, including mandatory quarantine at hotels after reaching Saudi Arabia, it said.

All Saudi-bound passengers have been asked to get hold of the nearest business office of Biman Bangladesh to know about their new flight plan.