[UAE] Visas of 4,000 Bangladeshis cancelled, preventing return to jobs

In the UAE, the visas of over 4,000 Bangladeshis have been cancelled, leaving many people stranded at home after returning on leave, without a reason why they cannot return to their jobs and businesses, Asia News Network reports.

The government of Bangladesh is addressing the situation with the UAE through diplomatic channels and seeking a review of the cancellations, and affected Bangladeshis have given the authorities until September 22 to offer a solution.

The visa cancellations reportedly came without warning for many returnees.

Bangladesh began sending workers to the UAE in 1976. Over 50 years, the country has been among the major destinations for Bangladeshi expats, and more than 1,200,000 Bangladeshis currently live there.

State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur stated in a September 7 Facebook post that his ministry and the foreign ministry were aware that the visas of 4,000 Bangladeshis had been cancelled.

“Many of them have businesses and shops there. Efforts are underway to resolve the matter diplomatically,” he said.

According to ministry sources, the number of affected Bangladeshis subsequently rose to 4,800.

Affected expatriate Bangladeshis have reportedly submitted a five-point demand, including their rehabilitation and financial assistance until the crisis is resolved.

Among its terms, they demanded Tk 15,000-20,000 in monthly assistance for affected migrants and their families. Where returning to the UAE is not possible, they are seeking government initiatives to arrange employment in other suitable countries.

In addition, the expat group called for high-level diplomatic engagement with the UAE to allow affected expatriates to return to their previous workplaces.

MS Shekil Chowdhury - chairperson of the Centre for Non Resident Bangladeshi - said the UAE had increased scrutiny in response to the prevailing conflict situation in the Middle East.

He reportedly told The Daily Star that procedural lapses, including failure to renew visas on time or problems with documents, were being examined more closely. Social media activities and anything that could be considered a security concern were also drawing greater scrutiny.

The chairperson did add that he was not saying these issues were directly responsible for the cancellations. He stated that the wider geopolitical situation appeared to be influencing the scrutiny and that the government needed to increase engagement with the UAE.

Source: Asia News Network

In the UAE, the visas of over 4,000 Bangladeshis have been cancelled, leaving many people stranded at home after returning on leave, without a reason why they cannot return to their jobs and businesses, Asia News Network reports.

The government of Bangladesh is addressing the situation with the UAE through diplomatic channels and seeking a review of the cancellations, and affected Bangladeshis have given the authorities until September 22 to offer a solution.

The visa cancellations reportedly came without warning for many returnees.

Bangladesh began sending workers to the UAE in 1976. Over 50 years, the country has been among the major destinations for Bangladeshi expats, and more than 1,200,000 Bangladeshis currently live there.

State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur stated in a September 7 Facebook post that his ministry and the foreign ministry were aware that the visas of 4,000 Bangladeshis had been cancelled.

“Many of them have businesses and shops there. Efforts are underway to resolve the matter diplomatically,” he said.

According to ministry sources, the number of affected Bangladeshis subsequently rose to 4,800.

Affected expatriate Bangladeshis have reportedly submitted a five-point demand, including their rehabilitation and financial assistance until the crisis is resolved.

Among its terms, they demanded Tk 15,000-20,000 in monthly assistance for affected migrants and their families. Where returning to the UAE is not possible, they are seeking government initiatives to arrange employment in other suitable countries.

In addition, the expat group called for high-level diplomatic engagement with the UAE to allow affected expatriates to return to their previous workplaces.

MS Shekil Chowdhury - chairperson of the Centre for Non Resident Bangladeshi - said the UAE had increased scrutiny in response to the prevailing conflict situation in the Middle East.

He reportedly told The Daily Star that procedural lapses, including failure to renew visas on time or problems with documents, were being examined more closely. Social media activities and anything that could be considered a security concern were also drawing greater scrutiny.

The chairperson did add that he was not saying these issues were directly responsible for the cancellations. He stated that the wider geopolitical situation appeared to be influencing the scrutiny and that the government needed to increase engagement with the UAE.

Source: Asia News Network