Dhaka, Aug 23 (UNB) – Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira) on Thursday said that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has stopped renewing visas for Bangladeshi workers and also reduced issuing new ones.

“The UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has not been renewing work visas of Bangladeshis after expiry of their employment contracts since the last week and also reduced issuing new visas since then,” Baira president M Shahjalal Majumder told UNB.

He said some recruiting agencies, who are members of Baira, have been complaining since last week that the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are not renewing visas for Bangladeshi workers and also reduced issuing new visas for them.

Replying to a question, the Baira president said that when contacted the Bangladesh labour counselors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi told him that they are not aware about the reasons for such action by the UAE authorities. But, they assured him to convey the reasons after making an inquiry.

When contacted, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan told UNB today (Thursday) at present, some 15 lakh Bangladeshi workers are employed in Abu Dhabi, a very high number from a single country. This could be the reason for stopping issuing new visas for Bangladeshi workers, he said.

Similar is the case with Dubai and some other emirates of the UAE, Khan said adding that naturally, excess recruitment from a single country may lead to stopping renewal of visas or issuing new ones.

He mentioned that many Bangladeshis overstay there after expiry of their employment contracts and work illegally.