Staff Reporter :
Over 100 Saudi-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers were forced to return from Abu Dhabi airport last night following the sudden decision of the Saudi government to suspend all international flights, including to and from Dhaka.
Shariful Hasan, head of BRAC’s migration program, confirmed the development to The Daily Star
quoting the Bangladeshi migrant workers.
According to the workers, they were flying to Saudi Arabia via Abu Dhabi from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by an Etihad Airways flight on December 20.
But the flight was cancelled and the workers were sent back to Dhaka from Abu Dhabi airport.
Returning to Dhaka, many migrant workers were seen crying helplessly. Among the expatriate workers, Sabina Akhter and Taslima Akhter, hailing from Cumilla, said they spent Tk 2.5 lakh each to go to Saudi Arabia.
They said they did not inform their families about their return and now they cannot return to their homes.
Later, BRAC arranged food and accommodation for them at its safe home.
Contacted, Fakhrul Islam, assistant director of Probashi Kalyan Desk, HSIA, told The Daily Star that they have information that around 16 Bangladeshi workers were sent back to Dhaka last night.
“We don’t have complete information about the migrant workers who were sent back from different airports on their way to Saudi Arabia as the concerned airlines didn’t report to us. We are trying to collect information in this regard,” added Fakhrul.
Over 100 Saudi-bound Bangladeshi expatriate workers were forced to return from Abu Dhabi airport last night following the sudden decision of the Saudi government to suspend all international flights, including to and from Dhaka.
Shariful Hasan, head of BRAC’s migration program, confirmed the development to The Daily Star
quoting the Bangladeshi migrant workers.
According to the workers, they were flying to Saudi Arabia via Abu Dhabi from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by an Etihad Airways flight on December 20.
But the flight was cancelled and the workers were sent back to Dhaka from Abu Dhabi airport.
Returning to Dhaka, many migrant workers were seen crying helplessly. Among the expatriate workers, Sabina Akhter and Taslima Akhter, hailing from Cumilla, said they spent Tk 2.5 lakh each to go to Saudi Arabia.
They said they did not inform their families about their return and now they cannot return to their homes.
Later, BRAC arranged food and accommodation for them at its safe home.
Contacted, Fakhrul Islam, assistant director of Probashi Kalyan Desk, HSIA, told The Daily Star that they have information that around 16 Bangladeshi workers were sent back to Dhaka last night.
“We don’t have complete information about the migrant workers who were sent back from different airports on their way to Saudi Arabia as the concerned airlines didn’t report to us. We are trying to collect information in this regard,” added Fakhrul.
