Muhammad Najm Al-Islam, Bangladesh consul general in Jeddah, described the relationship between Bangladesh and the Kingdom as strong, close and old. A statement released by Najm Al-Islam said that since the Saudi government’s announcement of the grace period to legalize expatriate worker status, the consulate began immediately providing all necessary services to the Bangladeshi community.

In addition, the consulate is distributing publications and translations of the new regulations issued by the Ministry of Interior. The consul general said the consulate serves between 5,000 and 7,000 applicants a day. The numbers are expected to rise because the remaining time of the announced grace period is limited.

On May 23, according to his statement, the consulate served 2,300 applicants, and the number increased last Saturday to 3,700. On Sunday the number went up to 4,883 and on Wednesday 5,200.

He said the total number of the applicants who underwent status correction was 38,293. Of them, 16,000 were issued new passports and 12,000 had their passports renewed.

Najm Al-Islam said that the vast majority were applying to correct their status, while those applying for repatriation were limited in number.

“In order to serve the largest numbers and to finalize their documents to help them take advantage of the granted golden opportunity, we are working almost 24 hours a day, from 8 a.m. until 2 a.m. without leaving the consulate until the last applicant is serviced.”

He added that the consulate had sent officials to Yanbu. By the end of this week, additional officials will be send to Madinah to cater to the Bangladeshi citizens living there. The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also dispatched additional staff to its diplomatic missions in the Kingdom.

The consulate has been using the Haj and Umrah Office for deportees and the adjacent Bangladeshi school for the receipt and delivery of documents in order to ease congestion at the consulate.

The consul general called on Bangladeshis to abide by the laws of the Kingdom and avoid irregularities in residency and work permits. He appreciated their response to calls from the consulate, thanking those from his country and those residing in the Kingdom who they work with on a voluntary basis..

Yesterday, a large number of members of the Bangladeshi community were spotted in the space and area around their consulate in Jeddah, many of who came from within Jeddah and other areas cities to correct their statuses before the deadline.