By GEOFFREY BEW

BANGLADESHIS in Bahrain yesterday welcomed reports that a ban on work permits will not affect anyone already living in the country. The Interior Ministry announced on Sunday that only labourers who applied for a work visa after May 27 would be affected by the new policy.

Entry points, research and follow-up assistant under-secretary Yousif Al Ghatam said Bangladeshi residents and their families already here would be exempted from the ban, as well as those transferring companies inside Bahrain.

The rule will also not apply to businessmen travelling to Bahrain on visit visas and professional, qualified workers applying for work.

The announcement represented a toning down of the ban, which the Interior Ministry last week said would apply across the board.

Bangladesh School acting principal Suraiya Shammi welcomed the announcement after earlier saying work on a new campus in A’ali had stalled as a result of the ban.

More than 300 Bangladeshi children, aged three to 16, study at the school and another 50 from other nationalities.

“We are very happy with the decision,” Ms Shammi told the GDN.

“This may save the school and we are planning to move to the new premises very shortly.

“Hopefully we will start construction in the next two or three months.

“I met a few parents and school managing committee members and they were hopeful everything will be fine now.”

Embassy Charge d’Affaires Saiful Islam thanked the government for softening the rule.

“We welcome this decision,” he said.

However, Mr Islam said officials were still hopeful the government would change its mind on any form of ban of his people.

“We expect that the government may reconsider this once law and order has been maintained,” he said.

The ban on Bangladeshis was imposed after a group of MPs called for action following the death of Bahraini Mohammed Jassim Dossary, 38, who was allegedly murdered by a Bangladeshi mechanic during an argument last month.