Cancellation of Flights: Saudi-bound migrants in a bind

Uncertainty looms over the fate of hundreds of Saudi-bound Bangladeshi migrant workers as Saudia airlines cancelled multiple flights following the countrywide internet shutdown since Thursday night.

Saudia, national flag carrier of KSA, cancelled around 10 flights since early Friday.

Amid the situation, the stranded migrants are uncertain regarding them being able to go back to their workplace, as many of their visas are set to expire within two-three days.

"I was supposed to fly for Saudi at 3:00am on Saturday. But after arriving at the airport, the Saudia authorities informed us that the flight has been cancelled," Abdullah Al Mamun who came back to the country on a three-month leave, told The Daily Star.

"My visa will expire within three days. I will lose my job if I cannot return on time," Mamun from Cumilla added.

After failing to return to the KSA, an anxious Mamun and hundreds of other migrants yesterday thronged the head office of Saudia at the capital's Sonargaon intersection.

They conveyed their anxiety and grievances to Saudia officials, as many were afraid they wouldn't be able to return to KSA before their visa expires.

Rajib Ahmed of Keraniganj said, "I came to Bangladesh on a six-month leave. My flight was on early Saturday, but when I arrived at the airport, I came to know the flight was cancelled due to the internet outage."

The officials of Saudia noted down our names, flight dates, and dates of visa expiry, said Rajib, who has been working in Saudi Arabia for seven years.

Rajib said his visa will be expired after seven days.

A Saudia official, wishing anonymity, said they are arranging a special flight for those whose visa will be expired within one or two days.

"We have noted down the names and other necessary information of the passengers and will try to arrange flights accordingly so that nobody is affected," he also said.

Saudia officials hoped that the internet situation will become normal soon and they will be able to start flight operations normally.

Like Saudia, passengers of some other foreign carriers have also been facing problems due to flights being cancelled or delayed due to the blackout.

Several hundred incoming and outgoing passengers at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka faced severe troubles in this connection.

Many of the passengers got stranded at the airport or had to stay outside the airport, as the international flights were either delayed or cancelled due to technical glitch related to global Microsoft flight data and lack of passengers amid road blocks by the demonstrators in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country over the last three days.

Sources at the HSIA said 16 international flights were either delayed or cancelled in the 72 hours until 6:00pm yesterday.