It is ironic that expatriate Bangladeshi workers to Italy have been fighting tooth and nail to get an air ticket and running from pillar to post to know whether their visas and work permits, some of them have already expired, will be extended in time and they will be able to return to that European country.
Media report in a national daily on Friday said that the migrant workers flying to Italy on a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines would have to pay about Tk 77,000 for a ticket, over twice the amount they used to pay before the Covid-19 pandemic.
As reported, the special Biman flight will carry a maximum of 260 passengers due to coronavirus restrictions imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. The flight will operate on Wednesday directly from Dhaka to Rome. Some of the migrants came home on vacation before the pandemic on Turkish Airlines flights paying between Tk 50,000 and Tk 75,000 for the round trip.
Although the additional money will be a burden for the expatriates, they have no choice because further delay might cost them their jobs. Some of them said that they have been searching for tickets for the past several days. Nearly 15,000 expatriates are desperately waiting to return to their workplaces in Italy.
According to the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, around 1.45 lakh Bangladeshi migrants with valid documents live in Italy while an estimated 20,000 Bangladeshis work there without valid documents.
It is to be noted that Italy recently withdrew its flight embargo for Bangladeshis with valid stay permits. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates then started carrying Bangladeshi passengers to Italy. However, only Biman will operate a direct flight from Dhaka to Rome.
Sadly, instead of helping the returnee migrants, who contributed to the national economy through their hard-earned remittance, they were being incarcerated in jail because they have apparently “tarnished the image of the country”. This has been because of their undocumented status as a result of their being duped by unscrupulous recruiters and employers.
As we enjoy the fruits of the high flow of remittance, we must also acknowledge the contributions of these workers by treating them with respect, empathy and fairness.
Media report in a national daily on Friday said that the migrant workers flying to Italy on a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines would have to pay about Tk 77,000 for a ticket, over twice the amount they used to pay before the Covid-19 pandemic.
As reported, the special Biman flight will carry a maximum of 260 passengers due to coronavirus restrictions imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. The flight will operate on Wednesday directly from Dhaka to Rome. Some of the migrants came home on vacation before the pandemic on Turkish Airlines flights paying between Tk 50,000 and Tk 75,000 for the round trip.
Although the additional money will be a burden for the expatriates, they have no choice because further delay might cost them their jobs. Some of them said that they have been searching for tickets for the past several days. Nearly 15,000 expatriates are desperately waiting to return to their workplaces in Italy.
According to the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, around 1.45 lakh Bangladeshi migrants with valid documents live in Italy while an estimated 20,000 Bangladeshis work there without valid documents.
It is to be noted that Italy recently withdrew its flight embargo for Bangladeshis with valid stay permits. Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Emirates then started carrying Bangladeshi passengers to Italy. However, only Biman will operate a direct flight from Dhaka to Rome.
Sadly, instead of helping the returnee migrants, who contributed to the national economy through their hard-earned remittance, they were being incarcerated in jail because they have apparently “tarnished the image of the country”. This has been because of their undocumented status as a result of their being duped by unscrupulous recruiters and employers.
As we enjoy the fruits of the high flow of remittance, we must also acknowledge the contributions of these workers by treating them with respect, empathy and fairness.
