Oman will open its border to Bangladeshi workers from Oct 1

Bangladeshi expatriate workers stuck in the country since March due to the coronavirus pandemic can return to Oman from October 1 as the Middle East nation opens its border to Bangladeshi workers.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told The Daily Star over phone, "yet another good news for the country's expatriate workers, Oman has sent us a verbal note today stating that Bangladeshi workers will be able to enter the country from October 1."

Earlier in the day, talking to reporters at his office, the foreign minister said Bangladeshi workers have to show their valid passports, valid Oman residency IDs and Covid-19 negative certificates through PCR testing and agree to remain on a 14-day mandatory quarantine after entering Oman.

Momen added that Bangladesh was able to resolve the issue of stranded Bangladeshi expatriate workers of Saudi Arabia as the Gulf nation on Wednesday agreed to renew their visas and extend Iqama (valid work permit) for another 24 days.

He hoped that all stranded Bangladeshi expatriate workers will be able to reach Saudi Arabia before their Iqama expires.

And if not, "the Saudi government has assured us that they will extend the duration of Iqama for the remaining Bangladeshi workers stuck here," he said.