Airfares for flights to different Middle Eastern countries have doubled since last month, adding pressure on migrant workers returning to their workplaces.
Sufferings of Saudi-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers centering hotel booking for institutional quarantine reached its climax as Saudi Arabian Airlines announced that they won't be able to facilitate migrant workers from now on regarding hotel bookings. Biman Bangladesh Airlines which will resume its flight to Saudi Arabia from May 29 after nine days suspension in its
Bangladeshi migrants trying to go to Saudi Arabia have found themselves in more trouble as airlines are now saying that hotel bookings for the seven-day on-arrival institutional quarantine must be done by passengers. Officials of Saudi Arabian Airlines yesterday said they can no longer help migrant workers with hotel bookings. Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which is scheduled to
Migrants stuck in the middle
Return of 25,000 in Middle East uncertain as flights are suspended
Representational Image. Photo: Star
The return of at least 25,000 Bangladeshi expatriate workers to UAE, Oman, and Kuwait has become uncertain due to the suspension of flights.
In the latest move, Kuwait has banned direct commercial flight operations from Bangladesh and three other South Asian countries on Monday.
According to sources, several thousand Bangladeshis became uncertain of returning to `their workplaces in the Gulf country due to the decision.
The three other countries are Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, Kuwait s civil aviation department made the announcement yesterday.
Flights to Middle East: Sky-high airfare adds to migrant workers’ woes
Airfare to different Middle Eastern countries has increased manifold in the last few months, putting an additional burden on migrant workers returning to their workplaces.
A year ago, a ticket to Saudi Arabia cost between Tk 20,000 and Tk 25,000 in most cases. But nowadays, a ticket to the same destination would cost Tk 90,000-95,000, recruiting association leaders said.
In some cases, expatriate workers end up paying Tk 1.10 lakh or more for a Biman or Saudi Arabian Airlines ticket, M Tipu Sultan, president of Recruiting Agency Oikkya Parishad, told The Daily Star yesterday.