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Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the government of Saudi Arabia has cut air communication with all countries since March 25. As a result, many expatriate workers who came to Bangladesh on vacation were trapped.
As of March this year, 6,400 new visas had been processed in Saudi Arabia alone. As these visas are valid for three months, all visas have already expired.
After the recent shutdown, the process of going to Saudi Arabia began and expats faced various problems.
Some expats willing to go to Saudi Arabia have reported five crises.
Complications in visa renewal
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, a Saudi expat for almost 12 years, arrived in Bangladesh on February 26 on vacation.
It was later stranded in Bangladesh when the Saudi government suspended flights to all countries due to the coronavirus. Your visa has already expired.
Now when you go to pick up a new visa, you see that you have to present the passport along with the power of attorney in the name of the sponsor’s employer or recruiting agency, the BMET registration letter.
Also, the approved center health examination certificate in Dhaka, even if you have a Bangladeshi passport, you need to provide a separate police clearance.
Rafiqul Islam and many other expats like him are struggling to get so many roles.
Instructions given by the Saudi embassy to renew the visa are time consuming and expensive, said Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury, Baira’s secretary general.
That is why it is impossible to send 20 to 30 percent of workers to Saudi Arabia, he said.
Recruitment agencies are also struggling with how to guarantee visas for this large number of workers.
Meanwhile, Rakibul Islam, another Tangail resident, extended the visa until September 30 requesting the sponsor of his company. But during this time he could not go because he did not receive a ticket.
His sponsor later refused to extend the deadline at another point.
In this situation, with the help of friends and colleagues in Saudi Arabia, he spent 200 rials and extended his visa for one more month. But he didn’t get a ticket even after queuing from morning to afternoon for several days.
In such a situation, you are concerned if your last chance will be missed.
Demand extra money for passport renewal
The recruiting officer for Rafiqul Islam’s company assured him that he would return to work in Saudi Arabia, but he was unable to obtain a visa because his passport was invalid.
He said that now he has to extend the validity of this passport in an emergency.
Realizing the necessity, he alleged that an unscrupulous official demanded 40,000 rupees from him.
He said, “He told me, I will send the date in the passport on the computer. He said that if I can pay for the work, it will cost 40,000 rupees.” They want so much money. “
He said expats would not have to suffer if the government extended the validity of automatic passports.
Health check
Meanwhile, Emdad Hossain, a Barisal resident, felt embarrassed when he went for a medical check-up. Mandatory health examination certificates for foreign travelers must be obtained from the only authorized center in Mohakhali, Dhaka.
But after a long journey and queuing for two days in a row, she was unable to get a medical check-up.
On the contrary, seeing the crowds of people in the health control center, he worried about his own health.
Emdad Hossain said: “It’s okay to wear a mask, but there is no social distance. Now even if we don’t have coronavirus, I will have coronavirus there.”
Again, this medical examination must be done a maximum of 72 hours before the trip. Reports must be collected 24 hours in advance.
But pushing the crowd, he was able to get tested the day before the trip. For this reason, the report was not received. Later he went to the airport without a report.
Despite having his ticket and passport in hand, he was unable to board the plane due to a lack of coronavirus test results. You are now trying to get Saudi Airlines to allow you to travel with the old ticket later.
Otherwise, you regret having to buy a full price ticket and quickly travel to Saudi Arabia. In this situation, you think that it is necessary to increase the number of health examination centers.
“Do all the Bangladeshi people live in Dhaka? If I do some centers outside of Dhaka or some centers within Dhaka, people don’t suffer that much. If my ticket has to be reissued, who will pay me?” He said.
Police verification
Despite having a passport, the Saudi Arabian authorities have established new rules that require each passenger to present a police verification certificate or a police clearance certificate.
Labor exporter organizations have said there is no justification for submitting the separate authorization in Bangladesh, where the police verification process is completed at the time of passport issuance.
Also, expats said that this police check comes at an additional cost.
An expatriate Saudi worker, who did not want to be identified, said: “If I go to the police for a check, I will ask for Rs 20,000 for a job that costs Rs 2,000. Here.”
Shame ticket
Many Saudi expatriate workers who came to collect tokens and tickets at the Saudia Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines offices in Motijheel also filled Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Friday.
However, only those who have been able to extend their visa from 20 to 30 have come. The rest are now waiting for the extension.
Expats fear that coronaviruses could shut down many construction projects in Saudi Arabia and cut the workforce in half on some projects, and that they could lose their jobs forever if they don’t travel to Saudi Arabia on time.
Apple Hayat Zaki, a resident of Narsingdi, has been waiting in line in front of Saudia Airlines every morning for the past 15 to 20 days, waiting for tokens and tickets. But even today the entries have not been seen.
In Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, his employer has extended his visa until October 30, but has said he will not extend it.
In such situation, you are worried about whether you will get back to work on time.
“Kafil will not renew our visa unless we get to 30. The job will disappear. I will not be able to go to Saudi Arabia.” He said.
Many expats have also complained about the theft of cash and mobile phones amid this long line of tickets and crowds.
Even if the Saudi authorities enforce this rule, Bangladesh can make the process easier and shorter in less time by launching a one-stop service center or one-stop service.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Expatriate Welfare and other concerned ministries have continued their diplomatic activities to extend visas for all workers, said the Managing Director of Boysel of Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited. Saiful Hasan Badal.
Source: BBC
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