Photo : Collected
The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment has yet to announce the lifting of Oman's visa ban for Bangladeshis, leaving many aspiring visitors in distress. Additionally, sudden visa restrictions upon arrival have placed numerous individuals in dire situations. Calls are being made for the government to take decisive action to address these issues promptly.
Officials overseeing the Oman desk at the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment have indicated that efforts are underway to address the issue, but they have yet to deliver positive news. According to the latest data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), there are approximately 546,000 Bangladeshis residing in Oman. However, several non-governmental organisations estimate the actual number to exceed 700,000. Since the imposition of the Oman visa ban on October 31 last year, visas in any category have ceased to be issued to Bangladeshis. Consequently, there has been a nearly 20 percent decline in the number of Bangladeshis entering the country in the three months leading up to December 2023. While 28,201 Bangladeshis went to Oman on various visas in September, the figure dropped to 22,312 in December.
On October 31, 2023, the Oman Royal Police issued a circular announcing the cessation of visa issuance for Bangladeshis across all categories. Additionally, they suspended the acceptance of applications for converting tourist visas to job visas for all individuals. Following this ban, the Oman Embassy in Dhaka released a statement asserting that this measure is temporary. It has been implemented to safeguard the legal rights of foreign workers and their employers residing in Oman, pending a comprehensive review within a specified timeframe.
Even after six months of the ban, there is still no positive update regarding the labour market in Oman. Many individuals who had traveled to the country are now stranded and facing unforeseen challenges.
Mohammad Russell, a resident of Shivnagar village in Chougacha, Jashore, has been residing in Oman for 22 years. He returned to Bangladesh on February 16 last year with his wife Sathi Khatun and their two daughters, intending to go back to Oman in December. However, due to the sudden imposition of the visa ban, they find themselves unable to return. Russell mentioned that his father, who has been in Oman for about 35 years, contacted the Bangladesh Embassy in Oman, but unfortunately, there has been no positive development.
Abdur Rahman from Jaipur, Monirampur, Jashore, is facing a similar situation. He arrived in Bangladesh on October 15 for a visit but is now unable to return to Oman.
Chairman of the Bangladesh Social Club in Oman, Sirajul Haque, expressed to The Daily Messenger, "We have been hearing for a long time about the potential introduction of Oman visas for Bangladeshi citizens, but we are yet to see any progress in its implementation." He urged the government to take effective measures to lift the visa ban as soon as possible.
Experts suggest that Oman could serve as a positive example in the Middle East labour market. While negative perceptions about Bangladeshi workers persist in some countries, the Bangladeshi diaspora in Oman upholds a positive image. They are known for their diligence and hard work, which has earned them recognition and appreciation.
Meanwhile, as of January last year, Oman's total population was estimated at 4,568,003 according to official figures. However, NSI's calculations suggest that the total number of expatriates in Oman stands at 2,094,616. In other words, expatriates constitute 54.1 percent of Oman's total population.
In response to this issue, Deputy Secretary (Employment-3) of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Manpower, Gazi Md Shahed Anwar, informed The Daily Messenger that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively addressing the matter. He mentioned that the Bangladesh Embassy in Oman is also engaged in efforts to resolve the issue. However, he added that there is currently no specific timeline for when the visa ban will be lifted.
Messenger/Fameema
