Hundreds of migrant workers have continued their demonstration in Dhaka for the fourth day demanding air tickets to Saudi Arabia so that they can join their workplaces in the Middle Eastern country before visas get expired.
On Wednesday morning, the aggrieved expatriates took to the street in front of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment in the Ramna-Eskaton area and demanded air tickets to Saudi Arabia as Biman Bangladesh Airlines is yet to receive any green signal to carry passengers to the oil-rich kingdom, thus causing uncertainty among the expatriates to go back to their workplaces.
The agitated workers expressed concern that they might lose their jobs if they failed to reach their workplaces in the kingdom in due time.
Sayed Arman, a Saudi Arabia expatriate from Nawabganj, told The Business Post he must reach Saudi Arabia by September 30; otherwise, he will lose his job.
"I have a return ticket but Saudi Airlines is saying the ticket will not be issued now. My return to Saudi Arabia has become quite uncertain and I don't know how to survive in Bangladesh," he said.
On Tuesday, several hundred migrant workers demonstrated at Karwan Bazar with the same demand. They gathered in front of the Saudia Airlines office around 10am to secure their tickets.
The airlines earlier issued a notice that they have suspended issuing tickets, sparking the protests.
However, a flight of Saudi Arabian Airlines left Dhaka last night and reached Riyadh following suspension for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
On Monday, Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director Md Mokabbir Hossain said they got approval to operate flights to the kingdom from October 1.
On Tuesday, the agitating workers alleged that the Saudi Arabian Airlines is charging 95,000 taka to issue a ticket which is the highest price ever for their tickets.
Despite having a return ticket, the airline company is charging an additional 25,000 taka for reissuance, they claimed.
Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Tuesday said it will approve the operation of additional flights by Saudi Arabian Airlines so that all Bangladeshi migrant workers can return to their workplaces.
However, Bangladesh has sought one more extension of three months from Saudi Arabia for Bangladeshi valid visa holders and their Iqama (valid work permit) in an effort to help workers return to their workplaces as the latest extension term will expire on September 30.
sh/sik/teb
