Expatriates are working as construction workers in Qatar.
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Photo: Doha News
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Bangladesh for the first time. There was no shortage of interest in Bangladeshi expatriates in Qatar surrounding his two-day state visit.
As he expressed the hope of strengthening bilateral relations before leaving after his state visit of about 22 hours from Monday to Tuesday, 10 agreements and understandings were signed between the two countries on trade and investment in his presence.
Only 10 percent of the population of the Middle Eastern country of Qatar are Qatari citizens, almost 90 percent are immigrants. It goes without saying that immigrants are an important part of Qatar’s economy.
About 400,000 Bangladeshis live in Qatar, which is about 14 percent of the country’s total population.
Shafiullah Munshi of Narsingdi is the owner of the Bangladeshi company ‘Euroway Travels’ in Doha. Although he was excited about the Qatari Emir’s visit to Dhaka, he could not hide his grievances as an expatriate.
He said, “The cost of flights from Bangladesh to Qatar is very high, if this cost is reduced, Qatari expatriates could travel to the country at a low cost!”
Besides, he demanded the introduction of e-gates for expatriates at the country’s airports and an end to ‘unnecessary harassment’.
Syed Md. of Brahmanbaria worked as a manager in Bangladeshi clothing factory ‘Dynamic Fashion’ in Doha. Mahbub Alam He demanded to reduce the ‘unusual housing and office rent’ in Qatar.
Mahbub said, “Many people who have been in Qatar for a long time want to live in Qatar with their families. But getting a resident permit for a family in Qatar is relatively difficult. As a result, many people are unable to bring their families here even if they want to. It needs to be resolved.”
Salahuddin Mazumder of Chandpur, a worker at a printing-service shop in Doha. He said, “Citizens of different countries work together in Qatari workplaces. Bangladeshis are often not given equal importance and opportunities in the workplace in terms of recruitment and promotion.” Salahuddin wants to change this situation.
Expatriates complain that while many countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal have eased the process of manpower export in Qatar, Bangladesh is creating ‘new conditions and additional rules’. They feel that the way for Bangladeshis to come to Qatar for work is ‘long and difficult’.
The expatriates demanded that the Bureau of Manpower and Employment be made ‘modern, dynamic and effective’. Besides, there have been many complaints of ‘unnecessary harassment and extra charges’ from the staff at the Qatar visa center located in Bangladesh.
Even though the long-awaited visit of the emir of Qatar is over, there is no shortage of speculation and optimism among the expatriate Bangladeshis. A large part of the expatriates feel that this visit will bring a positive dimension to the Qatar-Bangladesh relationship. Besides, the problems of expatriates will be solved and the future will be sustainable.
