KSA-Bound Workers: Govt steps in to ease their plight

After at least 1,000 migrants missed their flights to Saudi Arabia failing to book or pay for their mandatory quarantine in hotels, Bangladesh yesterday decided to help KSA-bound migrants with hotel bookings and subsidy.

The migrants had been in trouble after the Gulf country, the largest manpower market for Bangladesh, earlier this month said people travelling to the kingdom from Bangladesh would have to be in seven-day mandatory quarantine in hotels at their own cost.

Many workers struggled to manage the additional Tk 60,000-Tk 70,000 needed for their hotel stay. Some unable to book hotels themselves for various reasons, sought the help from airlines, who a few days ago said the migrants would have to book hotels themselves.

The about 1,000 migrants, who missed their flights, missed them over the last few days alone.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said having realised the problems being faced by the Saudi-bound migrants, the prime minister has instructed the foreign ministry to take initiatives for arranging the hotel bookings.

"I asked our ambassador [in Saudi Arabia] to list the migrants going there and then arrange hotel bookings for their quarantine," Momen said.

If the hotel is expensive, the government will subsidise, he said, adding that he had spoken to the expatriates' welfare minister in this regard.

"If they can go to Saudi Arabia, they can find jobs. This is good for us."

Sources in the expatriates welfare ministry said they have decided in principle to prove cash support to the migrants and that they would have a inter-ministerial meeting on the issue on May 30.

The Daily Star talked to at least 40 migrant workers at Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) office in Karwan Bazar yesterday. They said they and about 1,000 others missed their flight over the last three days.

Several hundred migrants gathered at Saudia's office in the morning and waited until evening to see if anyone would help them.

They said as per Saudia's instructions they talked to their travel agents and their employers in Saudi Arabia for hotel bookings, but that was of no use.

They blamed Bangladesh government's failure to ensure hotel bookings for them and were frustrated and afraid that they would not be able to go to Saudi Arabia in time as visas of many only had a few weeks left.

Saudia on May 25 said the migrants themselves would have to book hotels, deviating from KSA government's instruction that travellers must book listed hotels through their airlines.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines, which is scheduled to resume flights to Saudi Arabian destinations tomorrow after nine days of suspension, also said passengers would have to book hotels on their own.

According to the travel advisory issued by the Saudi government that came into effect on May 20, reservation of hotel for quarantine was mandatory for people who have not been vaccinated for Covid-19.

Saudia helped migrants with hotel bookings until May 24.

Fonu Mollah, who missed his flight yesterday, said officials of Saudia told him to go to its Karwan Bazar office the day before his departure with around Tk 60,000 for his hotel stay.

"After coming here on Wednesday, I found no one here to help me with hotel booking. The airlines officials at the Dhaka airport said that I won't be able to fly as I don't have hotel booking," said a disappointed Fonu of Savar.

"After missing my flight, I came to Saudia's office. I have been waiting for six hours here but not a single official talked to me. What will we do now?"

At least 20 others, including Belal Hossain, who was to fly with Fonu on the same flight, said they needed to know what they ought to do.

Aminul Islam, who too was to leave on the same flight, said, "What will be our fate? Where we will go now? How more will we have to suffer to get the information?"

Imam Hossain said he went to Saudia's office thrice from Chandpur in one week.

"Every time, the Saudia officials told me to come the day before my flight with the money. On Tuesday, they changed their mind and said they won't be able to help me. Finally I missed my flight on Wednesday," he said.

He claimed that at least 100 migrants failed to leave on his flight alone.

Kamruzzaman, who missed his flight on May 25, said, "My visa will expire within 10 days. I will be in serious trouble if I can't return to Saudi Arabia before that."

Md Jibon, who missed his Wednesday's 2:15am flight, said, "No one will be understand our sufferings and agony. The government says we are the remittance earning fighters. But there is no one to hear our cry and sufferings."

Despite repeated attempts, The Daily Star could not reach Saudia Country Manager Tarik A Alowaidi for comments.

Foreign Minister Momen told reporters at his office yesterday that only 13 Bangladeshis were found with the Indian variant of Covid-19 and only one person was said to have died from black fungus. But these stories got a lot of media traction.

Therefore, many countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, UAE, Bahrain, UK, South Korea, suspended flights fearing the spread of the Indian variant.

"We will do all we can to reduce migrants' trouble."

He said the government was considering vaccinating migrants with priority.

Those going to the Middle East are mostly aged 20-40 years. Currently, people above 40 are eligible for vaccination. The government is considering a special vaccination programme for those aged between 20 and 40 years, Momen said.

"One dose of Johnson & Johnson is enough… we will discuss it in the inter-ministerial meeting [Saturday]. If that is done, hassles will be reduced," he said.