Saudi expatriates can return home for Tk20,000

The interim government has taken a special initiative to ensure affordable travel for Bangladeshi expatriate workers, fixing one-way ticket fares at Tk20,000 on the Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh route.

The initiative was announced in a message from the chief adviser’s press wing on January 30.

Adviser to the civil aviation and tourism ministry Sheikh Bashir Uddin said a target has been set to sell 80,000 tickets under this arrangement covering both Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh routes. He said the initiative would benefit expatriate workers while enabling state-owned carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines to earn significant financial gains.

He added that the initiative would effectively utilise previously operated one-way empty flights during Hajj operations. He said there is realistic potential for Biman to earn more than Tk1 billion in additional income for the first time in its history.

Under the arrangement, the minimum one-way fare on the Madinah-Dhaka and Jeddah-Dhaka routes has been fixed at Tk20,500. The minimum return fare on the Madinah-Dhaka-Madinah and Jeddah-Dhaka-Jeddah routes has been set at Tk42,000.

The special fare will remain effective for travel to Bangladesh from April 18, 2026 to May 25, 2026 and for return travel from Bangladesh from May 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus thanked Sheikh Bashir Uddin for taking the initiative, describing it as an important milestone in implementing expatriate-friendly policies.

He said such practical decisions would make the lives of expatriate Bangladeshis easier and contribute positively to the national economy, while emphasising the need to ensure the initiative remains fully effective.