By GEOFFREY BEW<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The rule will also not apply to businessmen travelling to Bahrain on visit visas and professional, qualified workers applying for work.<\/p>\n
The announcement represented a toning down of the ban, which the Interior Ministry last week said would apply across the board.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
More than 300 Bangladeshi children, aged three to 16, study at the school and another 50 from other nationalities.<\/p>\n
“We are very happy with the decision,” Ms Shammi told the GDN.<\/p>\n
“This may save the school and we are planning to move to the new premises very shortly.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully we will start construction in the next two or three months.<\/p>\n
“I met a few parents and school managing committee members and they were hopeful everything will be fine now.”<\/p>\n
Embassy Charge d’Affaires Saiful Islam thanked the government for softening the rule.<\/p>\n
“We welcome this decision,” he said.<\/p>\n
However, Mr Islam said officials were still hopeful the government would change its mind on any form of ban of his people.<\/p>\n
“We expect that the government may reconsider this once law and order has been maintained,” he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading