Bangladeshi migrant workers have staged demonstration and laid siege to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka demanding air tickets to return to their workplaces in Saudi Arabia.

Moreover, the ticket-seekers also demonstrated in front of the Biman Bangladesh Airlines office in Dhaka’s Motijheel area. 

Several hundreds of migrant workers on Tuesday morning initially staged protest in front of the offices of Saudi Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines in Karwan Bazar area. Later they moved for the foreign ministry and Biman office in Motijheel. 

One demonstrator Moin Uddin said: “My visa will expire on September 30 and I have to get back to my workplace in Saudi Arabia within this time period. The government must take step to solve the ticket crisis, otherwise, thousands of people will be jobless.”

The demonstration in Karwan Bazar and Motijheel areas also caused severe traffic congestion for hours.

During the demonstration, migrants chanted various slogans demanding air tickets. 

Many of them said they need to return to their workplaces in Saudi Arabia immediately possible because their visas or work permits will expire soon.

The Saudi authority issued warnings that migrant workers, who were stranded in their home country due to the coronavirus pandemic, must get back to work within September 30. The warning triggered a panic among migrants.

After long procrastination, Saudi Arabia on Monday gave permission to Biman Bangladesh Airlines for conducting flights to the country. However, it did not give landing permission yet. As a result, Biman could not announce flight schedule for Saudi Arabia which prompted the ticket crisis.

BDST:  1504 HRS, SEP 22, 2020
AP/SMS