ZCZC
BSS-53
BANGLADESH-KSA-TALK
Dhaka urges Saudi Arabia to increase flight frequencies
DHAKA, Sept 27, 2020 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today urged
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to increase flight frequency between Dhaka and
its different cities for facilitating quick return of Bangladeshi expatriate
workers, who have been stuck here due to COVID-19 pandemic.
He made the call in a telephone conservation with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign
Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al- Saud this evening, a foreign ministry
press release said.
Dr Momen welcomed the Saudi government’s decision for renewing visa and
extending iqama (work permit) period of the stranded Bangladeshi expatriate
workers here.
The Bangladesh foreign minister also requested his Saudi Arabian
counterpart to give approval to Biman Bangladesh Airlines for operating
flight between Dhaka and Dammam.
The KSA has already given permission to Biman Bangladesh Airlines to
operate commercial flights from Dhaka to three Saudi destinations – Riyad,
Madina and Jeddah from October 1.
Huge number of expatriate Bangladeshi workers from KSA, who came here to
visit their families before the outbreak of coronavirus, have been stuck in
the country due to flight suspension following the global lockdown.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia declared that it would renew expired visas and
extend iqama of Bangladeshi expatriate workers, who were stranded here due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, following a request made by Dhaka on Tuesday.
“The Saudi authority will keep Bangladesh workers’ iqama valid for 24 more
days and if required they will extend it more,” Dr Momen told BSS after
confirming the news from Riyad today.
On Thursday, the foreign minister confirmed that the Saudi civil aviation
authority has given landing permission for commercial scheduled flights of
Biman Bangladesh Airlines from October 1 to carry back the stranded
Bangladeshi workers to Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) has already
given approval to Saudi Arabian airlines to operate flight on Saudi Arabia-
Dhaka-Saudi Arabia route to ensure smooth return of the Bangladeshi
expatriate workers.
Besides, CAAB has given permission to Saudi Arabian Airlines to operate
four weekly flights instead of current two flights from Dhaka to KSA from
October 1 as per the airline’s call.
Earlier, the CAAB top official said that Bangladesh is also ready to give
permission to other Saudi carriers to operate from Dhaka to carry back
Bangladeshi expatriate workers employed in KSA.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Airlines have decided to operate 10
chartered flights to KSA within Sept 30.
BSS/ASG/TA/ARS/2016 hrs