The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has issued a public notice outlining procedures for Bangladeshi migrant workers who are currently stranded in the country due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and are facing visa expiration problems.
Many expatriate workers who returned to Bangladesh on leave before the crisis began have been unable to travel back to their workplaces abroad. As a result, a number of them are now dealing with visas that have either expired or are close to expiring.
In response, the ministry on Saturday released detailed instructions to help affected workers extend their visas and regularise their travel documents.
According to the notice, Bangladeshi workers currently staying in the country whose visas have expired or are about to expire should follow the renewal procedures set by the respective destination countries if they are unable to travel there immediately.
The ministry advised expatriates returning from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain to apply for visa extensions through their employers or sponsors under the kafala system. Applications can be submitted either online or through official government channels of the respective countries.
Officials said some Gulf states have already introduced temporary measures to assist migrant workers during the crisis.
The governments of Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have extended the validity of entry visas that have expired or are due to expire by an additional month.
The ministry urged expatriate workers to remain in close contact with their employers, recruitment agencies and relevant embassies for updated information.
It also assured that the government is monitoring the situation closely and will continue coordinating with host countries to protect the interests of Bangladeshi migrant workers during the ongoing crisis.
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