The Bangladesh government will initiate formal bilateral talks with Saudi authorities to extend visas for Bangladeshi expatriates stranded at home once the ongoing crisis in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East normalizes.
Speaking to reporters following the 30th anniversary celebration of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) at a hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday (October 13, 2026), State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haq Nur clarified that while past visa crises were resolved through diplomatic dialogue, the current environment in Saudi Arabia is not conducive to immediate discussions. "When Saudi Arabia itself is navigating a disaster situation, it is not the appropriate time to push demands. Once conditions stabilize, we will negotiate visa extensions to ensure workers can return to their jobs," the State Minister stated.
Highlighting bilateral solidarity, Nur emphasized that Saudi Arabia has remained a tested ally and that standing beside Riyadh during times of crisis is Bangladesh's moral duty. He added that the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh remains highly active, with the ambassador and diplomats visiting hospitalized victims following recent strikes. Regarding state relief, families of deceased workers are receiving BDT 13.5 lakh through official committees, while the government is actively planning the rehabilitation and reskilling of returnees. Nur noted that post-war reconstruction in the Middle East will unlock massive workforce demand, while highlighting zero-migration-cost initiatives to send nearly 10,000 workers to Malaysia. He concluded by urging all expatriates to strictly observe host nation laws banning the social media posting of war-related audio, video, or photo footage.
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Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
