COVID-19: Bangladeshis to Go to Saudi Arabia Following Some Conditions

Saudi Arabia has said it will allow citizens of 25 countries, including Bangladesh, to enter the country subject to certain conditions after lifting its entry ban.

Several media outlets, including the Saudi Gazette, Express Riyadh, and Arab News, have reported that Saudi Airlines will allow passengers to travel to Saudi Arabia from abroad on seven conditions.

Saudi Airlines has issued a statement saying that passengers must abide by the rules of health as per the guidelines issued by the Saudi Health Authority.

However, First Secretary of the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia Mostafa Jamil Khan said that although he did not know about any official decision in this regard, he came to know about this decision unofficially.

The Saudi authorities did not say when citizens of the 25 countries would be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia.

(There are about 22 lakh Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia) Photo: BBC Bangla

Citizens of 25 countries will be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia subject to certain conditions, the country's authorities said.

The conditions to maintain to go to Saudi Arabia: 

• All passengers wishing to travel to Saudi Arabia must undergo home quarantine for seven days before boarding. The duration of this quarantine for physicians and health workers will be three days. Physicians will need a coronavirus negative certificate after quarantine.
• Passengers must also fill out a specific form prescribed by the Saudi Health Authority before traveling by plane.
• The form must be submitted to the Airport Health Control Center after landing at the airport in Saudi Arabia.
• Every passenger is urged to register themselves by downloading two apps called Tatman and Tawakkalna.
• You are also instructed to register your address at the Tatman app within eight hours of landing in Saudi Arabia.
• The guidelines also stipulate whether coronavirus symptoms are present, go to a health center as soon as coronavirus symptoms are present or call 936, and check your health on a regular basis through the Tatman app.
• Self-quarantine before air travel is also urged to take precautionary measures as per the instructions mentioned in the form.

Saudi Arabia banned all international flights in March after the coronavirus outbreak began. The ban was later extended in several stages.

Source: BBC Bangla