Migrant workers crowd Saudi Airlines office

Saudi Arabia-bound migrant workers have crowded the Saudi Airlines office at Hotel Sonargaon in city’s Karwan Bazar area hearing the news of special flights.

Expatriate workers gathered in front of the Saudi Airlines office from Saturday morning. They came here from different parts of the country although problems due to countrywide strict lockdown.

But the expatriate workers did not get any information about the special flights as the airline office was closed.

The government on April 15 decided to operate around 100 special flights to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman and Singapore in one week from April 17 so that several thousand migrant workers who remained stuck in the country due to week-long ban on international flights, can return to their workplaces.

Md Habil, a Saudi expatriate who has come from Joypurhat, said “We are remittance fighters. I came here from Joypurhat expending Tk 10,000 but we have not got yet any information about flights. We have not been able to contact the Saudi Airlines authorities. My flight is 12.00am on Sunday (April 18). I still don't know about my flight.  If I can't go in time, my visa tenure will expire. In this situation, I am seeking the intervention of the government”.

It is learnt that due to the large number of Saudi expatriates, they will open the office. Asked about this, Ansar member Babul, who was in charge of the main gate of Hotel Sonargaon, said that the Saudi Airlines authorities have informed that they will open the office.

The expatriates blocked the roads in  Karwan Bazar area around 11:45am. Later, members of the law enforcement agencies tried to remove the expatriates from the roads.