UAE shelves visa for Bangladeshis

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) suspended visa for Bangladeshi workers on Tuesday following agitation by Bangladeshi workers in Dubai showing solidarity with students' quota-reform movement.

Dubai police detained 57 workers on July 20 for participating in the agitation violating UAE rules and regulations, said an official of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

He said a section of Bangladeshi workers joined a protest to support the ongoing quota movement.

Agitation of any type is prohibited in Gulf nations.

It was learnt that a total of 57 workers were detained due to their unlawful act, he mentioned.

Quoting Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury, state minister for expatriates' welfare and overseas employment, a local media outlet said he was informed of the suspension of visa issuance by the UAE government.

The minister will contact the UAE embassy soon with a request to open visa for Bangladeshi workers.

However, the FE could not obtain any information from the embassy in Dhaka because of internet blackout.

The UAE is a major market for Bangladeshis as it hires an estimated 30,000 workers each month from here.

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