Burdened with worries and financial troubles, hundreds of Bangladeshi expatriates’ eager to join their respective work places in Middle Eastern countries have been flocking to Biman Bangladesh Airlines' regional headquarters, in Chattogram for the past one week in search of air tickets, but their efforts go in vain.
Bangladeshi expatriates, who returned home in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, are making frantic moves to get air tickets for joining works as many Middle Eastern countries have eased travel bans.
But as there is no flight, the authorities are not giving them tickets or provide any information about when the tickets will available. The office of Expatriate Welfare and Manpower Export Office says it is imperative to provide the necessary guidelines to expatriates, including an immediate increase in flights to the Middle East otherwise, there will be chaos that may occur.
On Thursday hundreds of expatriates thronged to the Bangladesh Biman's regional office in Sholashahar of Chattogram city in the hope of getting tickets.
Many of them have return tickets for various destinations in the Middle East. Many could not go to work abroad within the stipulated time as they could not get tickets.
Jahangir Alam, an UAE- expatriate, said he was supposed to fly by August 11, but the airline did not give him a ticket even though his return ticket had been confirmed on the schedule.
“In a counter of the airline office, I have been informed that my ticket was canceled, but they did not explain the reason behind it,” Jahangir said, adding “I need a ticket to join the work, I appeal to the government to kindly do something immediately.”
Most of the passengers who are crowding for tickets in Chattogram are from the UAE. The country recently has relaxed the conditions of online registration for travel in the coronavirus epidemic for foreigners. Last week, entry was opened for Corona negative passengers without online registration and entry permit. But the Bangladeshi passengers are not able to take the advantage of the situation as the flight movement with the UAE is not normal.
Mohammad Parvej, another UAE-bound passenger told, “I came to the country in March by Biman Bangladesh Airlines and my return ticket has been confirmed on 19 August, but airlines officials told me that there is no flight to Dubai on the scheduled date.”
“May be they canceled my ticket, now what I will do? he asked. “How some people are managing the tickets with an extra charge from black markets?” he questioned.
Before the spread of the pandemic in last march, there were about 50 direct flights of several airlines a week from Chattogram to seven destinations in the Middle East, but now all flights are closed.
Bangladesh
Biman Airlines also operated international flights from Dhaka to 17 destinations in the Middle East.
The airline now operates flights to only two destinations-- Abu Dhabi and Dubai-- from Dhaka. In these flights of Bangladesh Biman, only insufficient number of passengers are getting tickets. In such a situation, Middle Eastern expatriates are begging for tickets of the national flag carrier Biman.
Mir Akataruzzaman, Biman's Regional Manager in Chattogram, told reporters that he did not know how to meet the demand for tickets at the moment.
“Only a few flights that are operating, there is no situation to give a ticket to someone anew, those who have return tickets are being given a chance. But most will not get tickets due to the scarcity of seats”, he added.
He also denied arranging seats for some in lieu of extra cost.
About half of the expatriate Bangladeshis who work in the Middle Eastern countries are from the Chattogram region. Apart from the UAE, several other countries, including Oman, are also easing travel bans. If the flight is not introduced as per the demand as soon as possible, chaotic situation may occur.
Zahirul Alam Majumder Deputy Director at Manpower and Employment Office in Chattogram said, “The ministry and the employment office are keeping an eye on the situation. Work is underway with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on how to repatriate the workers at their respective destinations in consultation with the countries concerned.”
He also thinks that a quick decision has to be taken to avoid chaos. Besides this, expatriates also need to be properly informed about the real situation regarding the lifting of travel bans in different countries.
