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Saudi Airlines begins ticket sale for returnees

Staff Correspondent | banglanews24.com
Update: 2020-09-24 16:07:37
Saudi Airlines begins ticket sale for returnees

Saudi Arabian Airlines has begun the sale of tickets to Saudi Arabia as hundreds of ticket-seekers wait in line outside the Airline’s office in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area.

The sale began around 1:45pm on Thursday, said the Airline’s General Manager Zahid Hossain.

Urging everyone to maintain the line, he assured that everyone will get tickets. 

Airlines officials said tickets will be given first to those who returned to Bangladesh from Saudi Arabia before the Covid-19 shutdown.

Officials also said that 500 people will get tickets in the first phase on Thursday.

Visiting firsthand the Bangladesh office of Saudia in Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area on Thursday morning, hundreds of ticket seekers were seen waiting in line.

Saudi returnees have been waiting outside the Saudia office to get tickets for the last four-five days as they could not get back to their workplace in Saudi Arabia due to the coronavirus shutdown. 

Meanwhile, a group of Bangladeshi migrant workers staged demonstration in Karwan Bazar on Tuesday and Wednesday demanding air tickets.

In wake of protests, Bangladesh authority concerned contacted Saudi authority to resolve the issue. 

On Wednesday, the Saudi government agreed to extend visas for the Bangladeshis who want to return to their workplaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).      

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday told journalists that the visa extension process for those whose visas have expired will start on Sunday.

He also said Bangladesh workers' iqama will remain valid for 24 more days and if required there will be further extension.

Dr Momen said the Saudi government has given landing permission to Biman Bangladesh Airlines which will help the return of Bangladeshis smoothly.

The government of Bangladesh has also given permission to all Saudi airlines to land here and take Bangladeshis back to the KSA.

Earlier 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. This warning triggered a panic among migrants as most of them could not manage air tickets.

BDST: 1550 HRS, SEP 24, 2020
AP/SMS

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