Expatriates' woes as return in shadow

Grave uncertainty has gripped several hundred expatriated Bangladeshis working in Saudi Arabia who came home months back on vacation for what they blamed concerned authorities for non-cooperation.

Gathered in large number in front of the office of Saudia Airlines at Karwanbazar in Dhaka on Saturday, they alleged that due to the mismanagement of the airlines authorities they were uncertain about their return to Saudi Arabia and were worried about their jobs.

Most of the migrants, who came back to home on vacation months back, said that the airlines authorities did not give them any clear information about the situation.

‘I am worried as I don't know if I will be able to join my work by May 26. If I face to join within the deadline, I will lose my job,’ said Md Jasim Uddin, a resident of Lakshmipur.

While waiting outside the airlines’ office, he said that his flight was scheduled for May 20 last, but it was cancelled and the authorities concerned didn’t announce any date of resuming their services.

The migrants also said that they were compelled to stay at hotel selected by the airlines at a higher price.

‘I have booked a hotel to stay seven days at a cost of Tk 40,000; but Saudia Airlines charged Tk 70,000 for the similar quality hotel,

Several hundred migrant workers, who are expatriate in Saudi Arabia, on Saturday gathered in front of the office of Saudia Airlines at Karwanbazar in Dhaka.

They alleged that due to the mismanagement of the airlines authorities they were uncertain about their return to Saudi Arabia. Most of the migrants, who came back to home on vacation months back, said that the airlines authorities did not give them any clear information about the situation.

‘I am worried thinking if I will be able to join my work by May 26 or lose my job,’ said Md Jasim Uddin, a resident of Lakshmipur.

While waiting outside the airlines’ office, he said that his flight was scheduled for May 20, but it was cancelled and the authorities concerned didn’t announce any date of resuming their services.

The migrants also said that they were compelled to stay at hotel selected by the airlines at a higher price.

‘I have booked a hotel to stay seven days at a cost of Tk 40,000; but Saudia Airlines charged Tk 70,000 for the similar quality hotel,’ said SM Al Amin of Dhaka.

He said that he had return ticket for May 19 but he could not go for flight suspension.

Al Amin said that he had completed his all preparation and booked a hotel at Tk 80,000 at Riyadh but the money was wasted.

The migrants said that they went to the airlines’ office to know whether their tickets were still valid, but they didn’t get any information in this regard.

Ali Hossain, from Gazipur, said that his ticket was for Saturday night’s flight but he was yet to get any confirmation in this regard.

Saudia airlines officials were not found for comments at the office.

Bangladeshi migrants to Saudi Arabia were facing problems from Wednesday as Saudi authorities had changed their decision to receive foreign passengers, said businessmen.

Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh executive vice-president AzharulKabir Chowdhury said that over 4,000 migrants had confirmed their tickets to Saudi Arabia in last few days, but suddenly the country changed their decisions.

The agitating migrants also alleged that they were compelled to pay additional Tk 70,000 for Covid quarantine in Saudi hotels whereas the Bangladesh embassy in the country was not cooperating with them.