Since May 11 when Bangladeshi workers were finally allowed to transfer sponsorship, the consulate in Jeddah has provided services to 63,194 people and issued more than 30,000 new passports, besides renewing 20,000. – SG photo by Mahmood Hasan Mahmood Hasan Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – They were the last ones to board the amnesty bandwagon but they have been working overtime to make up for the lost time. “We do not know how many illegal nationals we have in the Kingdom, but we are working round-the-clock to help as many of our nationals as possible,” Md Nazmul Islam, Consul General of Bangladesh, told Saudi Gazette here on Monday. Bangladeshi workers were unable to make the most of the grace period given by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to rectify their work and residence status because of a ban on their sponsorship transfer since 2008. The nod came only last month. And this had been a rough ride for the mission staff in the Kingdom. In almost 20 days – from May 11 to June 2 — the consulate in Jeddah offered services to 63,194 people. It issued more than 30,000 new passports, besides renewing 20,000. The consulate is using three offices to deal with the rush. In all 20 counters are serving the people. Twelve counters are accepting papers for new passports, five for renewal of passports, while three are working on exit passes. They are serving around 5,000 people a day. Giving a breakup, Nazmul said 60 percent cases relate to runaway reports, 30 percent concern passport renewals, while 10 percent are related to exit passes. The consulate has received staff from its head office, besides recruiting volunteers from the community. “We want to finish the job by June 25 so that our nationals can make the most of the opportunity,” he added. The consulate has issued 10,000 exit passes, but like other missions they too are trying to find jobs and sponsors for their nationals here. “Most of the people who have taken exit passes are still searching for jobs,” Md. Mokammel Hossain, Counsellor Labor, added. Even as we spoke there were a handful of people outside the CG's office looking for right people for their companies. The labor wing has also been placing job vacancies on the consulate website, notice board at the consulate, besides sending the word through its volunteers. “We are working as facilitators between the people and the companies,” Nazmul added. Consular teams have recently visited Tabuk, Madinah, Yanbu, while teams will visit Abha and Qassem this week. Another team will be visiting Madinah in a day or two to distribute passports and collect more forms. Asked how they inform the community in far-flung areas about the consular visits, he said the consulate sends circulars regarding such visits a fortnight in advance besides asking Bangla channels to run scrolls. The fingerprinting process at the detention center is the main worry for the consulate staff. Nazmul said that Bangladesh along with the Philippines and Yemen has been assigned Saturdays for fingerprinting. “There are only two computers at the center and hundreds of people from three nations. I offered them computers and technical staff, but they refused saying it is a sensitive issue. They need to improve the service there,” he said. Last Saturday the Bangladesh officials started at 7 in the morning and finished around 2.30 the next morning. Then again July 29 will be Bangladesh's last day at the detention center – four days before the amnesty deadline expires. “We stand to lose four days. So far not a single Bangladeshi has left Jeddah under the amnesty,” he said. Sending the people home, the CG cautioned, would be the next hurdle. Missions might be forced to charter flights around July 3, otherwise it would be impossible to take so many people at a time, Nazmul hinted. Another difficulty the CG mentioned was the regulation which allows a runaway worker to legalize status without the approval of the previous sponsor. “But there have been countless cases where such cases have not been entertained. Jawazat is still asking for NOC from the previous sponsor,” he lamented. The authorities have indicated that the deadline will not be extended, but Nazmul said his office is in touch with his South Asian counterparts and they will be urging the Saudi authorities to give it a serious thought.
