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KSA deports 93 more B’deshi workers home

October 11, 2019 00:00:00


FE Report

Saudi Arabia sent back 93 more Bangladeshi workers home on Wednesday following a crackdown.

Saudi Airlines flight 'SV 804' carrying the workers landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:25pm, according to Brac Migration Programme.

With this, a total of 534 Bangladeshi workers have been sent back by the Kingdom.

Many of them, including Jamir from Jamalpur, Zahiruddin from Laxmipur and Russel from Chandpur, said they went to Saudi Arabia legally two months ago but were forcefully sent back.

When contacted, Md Aminul Islam, labour counsellor at Bangladesh consulate in Jeddah, said deportation of Bangladeshi workers in higher numbers will be continued in the next one or two weeks.

Because of Hajj, workers who were arrested and sent to the deportation camp could not be sent home; so the number of returnee workers is felt higher now, he said.

Mr Islam added those who come here (Saudi Arabia) with an individual visa are mainly affected in crackdown.

Between 2017 and July 2019, the Saudi authorities closed 42 trades for foreign workers as part of the new policy.

If any foreign workers are found in these sectors, Saudi police arrest them on the spot, even though they have work permits, he said.

More than 12,000 Bangladeshi workers have been sent back home from Saudi Arabia since January.

About 2.0 million Bangladeshis are currently working in the Kingdom, according to officials.

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