The Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) formed a probe committee today pointed to immigration authority of Abu Dhabi, UAE for denying entry of 112 Bangladeshi expatriate workers as they did not inform Dhaka properly about their changing rules.
“Abu Dhabi’s immigration department has changed their immigration policy, but Bangladesh was not well informed about it,” CAAB Chairman
Air Vice-Marshal Mafidur Rahman told newsmen while revealing the investigation report of the committee at a briefing at CAAB’s headquarters here.
The committee recommended that the government should take necessary measures so that the 112 Bangladeshi returnees can travel to UAE again under the government arrangement.
The 112 Bangladeshi expatriate workers traveled by national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines and UAE’s Air Arabia to Abu Dhabi this month but they were denied entry to the oil-rich Gulf nation and sent back to Dhaka in return flights as they were asked to meet necessary conditions under the new immigration rules.
After the incident, the CAAB formed a five-member probe committee to investigate the issue following an instruction by the civil aviation and tourism ministry.
In the new rules, came into effect from August 10 last, those whose visas have expired must go to the Federal Authority for Identity and
Citizenship’s (ICA) website and apply for permission to visit Abu Dhabi.
“Our passengers have missed this point while Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Air Arabia did not get clear information as well,” said
CAAB Chairman.
However, he said both airlines also had flaws in issuing boarding passes to their passengers.
Not only Bangladesh, Rahman said passengers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan also had to return to their countries due to the changed immigration policy of Abu Dhabi.
CAAB Chairman said they have already submitted the investigation report to the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry to take proper measures based on the findings.
Earlier at a virtual inter-ministerial meeting, expatriate welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad said measures will be taken for sending the returnee expatriate workers.BSS
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