News Desk :
Twenty-nine Bangladeshi expatriates, who were stranded since arrival at Abu Dhabi airport yesterday, were all permitted entry today, Gulf News reported.
The stranded men earlier claimed they all had valid UAE residence visas, negative Covid-19 test results and ICA approvals for their re-entry into the UAE, but were held back at the airport upon arrival on Tuesday morning.
“We have been working to ensure their wellbeing from the start and are happy to note that all 29 were allowed to enter. They received PCR tests at the airport, tested negative and were granted entry,” Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UAE Mohammad Abu Zafar told Gulf News.
Ibrahim Khalil (42), one of the stranded expatriates who had flown in on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, said that he has been employed for 16 years with a catering company in Abu Dhabi. He also said he had initially been worried about his status.
“I left on an emergency on February 21. My mother had passed away. The leave was scheduled till March 25, but I was unable to return due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Finally, when I heard that flights had resumed, and I received the ICA approval, I decided to come back. Having cleared all the airport checks in Dhaka, I did not expect to get stranded when I reached the UAE,” he said.
Khalil said he was tested for Covid-19 with the rest of the group on Tuesday evening.
“We were then told to await results, and assigned hotel rooms and meals. Finally, in the early hours of Wednesday (today) morning, we were granted entry,” he added.
“We were so happy to hear that the situation had been resolved for all the passengers and grateful to the authorities concerned,” Abdul Mannan, a Bangladeshi trainer who had been in contact with the passengers, told Gulf News.
Earlier on Friday, more than 70 passengers who had arrived in Abu Dhabi on a Biman flight had not been permitted entry and were been sent back the following day.
“Fortunately, the 29 passengers from Tuesday’s flight were granted entry. In addition, all 17 Bangladeshi passengers who arrived on our flight on Wednesday were able to clear immigration,” NC Barua, regional manager of Biman, told Gulf News.
