Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday urged all Saudi Arabia-bound Bangladeshis expatiates to maintain discipline as he said all of them would be able to return before the expiration of their work permit or iqama.
He said most of the stranded Bangladeshi expatriate workers would be able to reach Saudi Arabia before expiration of their extended Iqama period.
“If not, the Saudi government has assured us that they would further extend Iqama duration for rest of the stranded Bangladeshi nationals here,” the foreign minister said while talking to reporters at his office. He said all expats would be able to return to their workplaces as flight operation has resumed between the two countries.
The visa renewal process for those who needed would start from Sunday when the embassy in Dhaka would open.
Both sides decided to allow their respective national flag carriers to carry passengers.
But he urged the expats to maintain discipline when they will go for renewing their visas or booking air tickets to avoid giving any wrong message to the Saudi government.
Unless, he warned that the Saudi government would not take it easily, if the workers create chaos here.
He also urged the Bangladeshi expatriate workers not to protest being instigated by a third party.
On Wednesday, the foreign ministry also issued a notice urging expatriate Bangladeshis to maintain discipline while collecting tickets and applying for visa extension.
The ministry mentioned three locations – the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka, ticketing booths of the Saudi Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines – where the expatriates must maintain discipline.
The Saudi Arabia, hosts 22 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates, has so far extended the validity of Iqama for Bangladesh citizens, who got stuck here due to COVID-19, thrice and the last one was supposed to expire on September 30.
A large number of expatriate Bangladeshi workers from different countries, who came here to visit their families before the outbreak of coronavirus, have been stuck in the country due to flight suspension following the global lockdown.
