Bangladesh has requested the Saudi government to waive the seven-day mandatory quarantine for Bangladeshi workers in the Kingdom as Dhaka will ensure quarantine here before their departure.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen made the request during a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan yesterday.

"We have requested them to waive seven-day quarantine in Saudi hotels and instead we will ensure quarantine [for the same duration] in Bangladesh prior to their departure," Momen said.

The Saudi foreign minister replied that he would convey this message to relevant authorities, added Momen.

If the Saudi government agrees, it will help reduce the financial burden of Bangladeshi workers going to the country, said the foreign minister.

At present, Bangladeshi workers must stay in seven-day institutional quarantine once they reach Saudi Arabia.

Momen thanked the Saudi government for allowing Bangladeshi workers in the country despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Saudi foreign minister conveyed to his Bangladesh counterpart that no one from outside Saudi Arabia will get the opportunity to perform Hajj this year due to the pandemic.