Bangladesh still has to wait some more

Bangladesh will have to wait some more to send unskilled manpower on a large scale to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the two governments still to finalise deals on redesigning a recruitment process.

This was indicated by top officials from both sides during the opening of UAE's new "consular section" at Gulshan 2 in the capital yesterday afternoon.

The UAE imposed stringent measures in August 2012 and stopped issuing entry permits from October 2012 after its concerns over fake documents and date-expired passports and visas went unheeded.

However, it has gradually relaxed visa restrictions, issuing those concerning residency and tourism, and recruited skilled manpower.

Talking to journalists at yesterday's inauguration, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, the chief guest, said the new consular section was an indication of the opening up of the labour market.

Asked if this was true, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Alhan Al Dhaheri said, "It's under process."

There is no ban on issuance of visas for Bangladeshis, he said, adding that the new "5 star" consular section's digital facilities and services would help all visitors and labourers from Bangladesh enter through "e-gates" in their airports.

Shahriar, on availing opportunities centring World Expo, to be hosted by Dubai in 2020, said, "This is an opportunity (as many jobs are being created) that does not come always. Everything is being done keeping the Dubai Expo in mind."

Some 6,00,000 Bangladeshis are now living in the UAE, entering with visas before the ban.