Expatriates from various destinations in the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi, are crowding in front of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines office in the city’s Sholashahar to buy tickets.
In light of the experience of the past two days, authorities have arranged for ticket seekers to line up outside the main gate from Thursday morning. As a result, they are burning in the sun on the sidewalk, standing in long queue on the road waiting for the ticket.
A passenger, who will go to Abu Dhabi, told this correspondent that he came to the country to take a normal holiday before the global epidemic. But due to the closure of the airway and strictness of the Covid 19 test, I could not go to my work place. I have heard that the UAE capital Abu Dhabi International Airport
has lifted the mandatory ICA travel permit rule for expatriates with residence visas. I want to take this opportunity to return to my work. The money that I brought when I arrived here was spent in the last five months. Now the back is against the all.
Another ticket seeker said the demand for Abu Dhabi tickets is high. But the number of flight is low. There is no end to his suffering. If the government had introduced special flights, it would ave been beneficial for the remittance earners.
According to Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Biman has 4 flights to Abu Dhabi in a week till ugust 30. The airline has applied for two additional flights.
An official of Biman said that the ticket of the expected day of the passenger must be confirmed. Many are allegedly forced to buy higher-class tickets at higher fares. But the official said there is no scope to harass anyone unnecessarily or to hang anyone’s journey.
Meanwhile, thousands of expatriates thronged Chattogram Biman Office for confirming air ticket as they could not fly to their work destinations in Middle East countries due to corona situation. These passengers could not maintain social distances. As well as, few persons were found not wearing mask.
Officer in-charge of Panchalaish thana told The New Nation that the Middle East bound expatriates are making rush for tickets and about one thousand expatriates came down before Biman office for tickets on Wednesday. He also mentioned that 25 police members have been deployed at the city Biman office for keeping discipline obeying social distances and other health rules.
