Govt asks expats to maintain discipline while applying for Saudi visa extension

The government has urged expatriate Bangladeshis who will return to their workplaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to maintain discipline while collecting tickets and applying for visa extension. 

The government also urged them not to create chaos being instigated by third party. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed the message to expatriate Bangladeshis on Wednesday night.

MoFA specially mentioned three locations - the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka, ticketing booths of the Saudi Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines – where the expatriates must maintain discipline. 

Bangladeshi workers who got stuck here will be able to return to their workplaces in KSA soon as issues such as Iqama and visa are being addressed and both Biman and Saudi airlines got permission to operate. 

"Our Ambassador [to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammad Javed Patwary] just phoned me conveying the positive outcome," Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said on Wednesday evening. 

He said Saudi Arabia has given landing permission to Biman which will help the return of Bangladeshis smoothly.

Bangladesh has also given permission to all Saudi airlines to land here and take Bangladeshis to the Saudi Arabia, the foreign minister also sail. 

Dr Momen said Saudi Arabia agreed to extend visas of the Bangladeshis who want to return to their workplaces but their visas expired.

"[There are] only a few cases of visa expiry, not that all visas are expired," the foreign minister.

The visa extension process will start Sunday. 

Bangladesh workers' iqama will remain valid for 24 more days and if required, there will be further extension, Momen added. 

"Iqama is not provided by the Embassy. It is provided by the employers," he said.