Staff Reporter :
Hundreds of Bangladeshi Saudi migrant workers on Monday again blocked the road in front of the Saudi Arabian Airlines office at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in city for the seventh consecutive day, demanding an extension of Saudi visa (validity of Iqama) as well as air tickets for flying back to Saudi Arabia.
The agitated expatriate workers started blocking the main road from 1 pm which created acute jam with causing untold sufferings to commuters in the area. As a result many city dwellers had to cross the area on foot.
During the protest, they chanted in unison, “Either everyone will live together! Or everyone will die together! “The visa period should be extended for three months, the protesters demanded.
It is mentionable, migrant workers complained that their visa tenure has been coming to an end on September 30. Although the government has announced to extend the visa for 24 days, but it was learned after checking, there is no sign of extending the visa over online.
The migrant workers also alleged that they won’t back home until government
extends the visa for three months.
Mohammad Shahjahan, a migrant workers from Hajiganj (Chandpur), said, “I have been passing idle time for the last nine months after coming back to the country. Here is no income source. The visa expiry date is September 30. I have been waiting for a week at the airline office to manage the visa and tickets. But I couldn’t do anything yet. What will happen if I can’t ensure my visa and tickets?
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has urged the government of Saudi Arabia to increase the number of flights in a bid to help expatriate Bangladeshis back to their workplace in due time.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday made the plea during a telephone conversation with his Saudi Counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Abdul Momen also asked Prince Faisal to commence flight operation on Dammam route as soon as possible.
During the phone conversation, Bangladesh foreign minister thanked the Saudi government for permitting flights from Bangladesh and extending the validity of expired iqamas (residence permits), as well as exit and re-entry visas of expatriates.
Earlier, migrant workers had blockaded the road in front of the Saudi Arabian Airlines office for similar reasons on Sunday.
