Help stranded BD migrants retain their job in KSA
24 May 2021
SAUDI-BOUND Bangladeshi migrant workers are facing complexities over their flights following the new travel terms and conditions imposed by the Saudi government. They include medical insurance covering the risk of corona infections and hotel reservation for quarantine. Otherwise, the Saudi authorities said, the migrants shall be deported and banned indefinitely from entering the Kingdom.
Because of the travel advisory, Biman Bangladesh Airlines had suspended its flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while the Saudia Airlines has decided to take an additional charge of Tk 70,000 for hotel quarantine. In addition, the plane fare of the airlines was doubled from the regular airfare. According to media reports on Sunday, sources at the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training say, "It is an internal KSA issue but we are discussing how to facilitate our migrants with low cost travel to that country." On the other hand, the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh said more than 4,000 migrant workers had confirmed their tickets to travel to Saudi Arabia. Some migrants also complained of taking extra money from the local office of airlines in city's Karwan Bazar for hotel booking.