Staff Reporter :
The Saudi government has extended the validity of visa and Iqama (work permit) for Bangladeshi expatriate workers till October 30 to help them return to their workplaces smoothly.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen confirmed it on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary conveyed the development to the Foreign Minister over phone.
Usually employers, not the government, provide Iqama (work permit) and Bangladesh raised the issue during discussion with the Saudi government.
The Saudi government responded positively in this regard saying Iqama will remain valid till October 30.
The Bangladeshi workers who got stuck here due to the COVID-19 pandemic have already started to return to their workplaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
The Saudi government has extended the validity of Iqama and visa for Bangladesh citizens several times at the request of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh government has urged the Saudi Arabian government to extend the validity of iqama and re-entry visas by three months, so that the stranded Bangladeshi migrant workers can return to the gulf nation.
Bangladesh Embassy in Jeddah has sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia in this regard recently.
The oil-rich kingdom is the most popular destination for migrant workers from Bangladesh.
Last year, Bangladeshi migrants sent back US$18.355 billion. Of the amount, $3.647 billion (19.87 percent) were sent from Saudi Arabia.
