The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has recommended to help send back the 112 migrant workers – who could not enter UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi – under government facility and to ensure all the necessary requirements, including Covid-19 certificates.
CAAB Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman disclosed the matter while summarizing the investigation report on Wednesday at a press briefing in the airport.
Although the two airlines – Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Air Arabia – showed inconsistency over the matter, the investigation committee found that the immigration authority of Abu Dhabi was at fault for not disclosing updated information on immigration policy.
The CAAB chief said that a five-member investigation committee was formed as per the inter-ministerial decision. The report was sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. The ministry will take the next step on the basis of the report.
However, the government had apparently decided to help send back the migrant workers after holding an emergency inter-ministerial meeting on August 17.
Mofidur Rahman said: “The passengers have returned from Abu Dhabi mainly due to immigration complications. Such incidents did not occur on the Dubai and Sharjah routes.
Abu Dhabi's immigration authority issued a notification changing their policy. But they did not notify the concerned airlines. The passengers had to return after going to the Abu Dhabi airport – due to the lack of the updated information.”
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Air Arabia did not get clear information in this regard, according to the committee report.
According to the report, the immigration authority of Abu Dhabi did not inform Bangladesh Embassy at Abu Dhabi either regarding the matter.
The incident took place in Abu Dhabi due to a sudden change in immigration policy, and the two airlines suffered financially, the committee reported.
However, similar cases of abrupt changes in immigration policy also emerged in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, said the report.
The inquiry committee recommended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should take steps to update all kinds of immigration and travel information after reviewing the requirements of various countries.
The expatriate passengers should get online one-stop services via an online web portal under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.
They also asked the government to arrange for the repatriation of 112 migrant workers to Abu Dhabi, under special arrangement by the government on an emergency basis, and to provide all kinds facilities including Covid-19 test certificates and other requirements.
