Saudi Arabia: One-way airfare for workers now Tk 20,000

The government has taken an initiative to ensure affordable travel facilities for Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia.

Under the initiative, the one-way airfare on the Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh route has been set at only Tk 20,000, making it easier and more economical for migrant workers to visit their families, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said yesterday morning.

About the initiative, Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin said under this special arrangement, a target has been set to sell 80,000 tickets in Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh.

“Through this initiative, expatriate workers will benefit directly, while the state-owned airline, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is also expected to gain significant financial benefits,” he said.

The adviser said particularly in the operation of Hajj flights, the long-standing practice of operating empty one-way flights will be effectively utilised through this initiative.

“As a result, for the first time in the history of Biman, there is a realistic possibility of earning more than Tk 100 crore in additional revenue,” he added.

Bashir said under this special arrangement, the minimum one-way fare on the Madinah-Dhaka and Jeddah-Dhaka routes has been fixed at Tk 20,500, while the minimum return fare on the Madinah-Dhaka-Madinah and Jeddah-Dhaka-Jeddah routes has been set at Tk 42,000.

This special fare will be applicable for arrivals in Bangladesh from April 18, 2026 to May 25, 2026, and for departures from Bangladesh from May 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026, he said.

Describing the initiative as an important milestone in the implementation of a pro-expatriate Bangladeshi policy, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said such practical decisions in the future would further ease the lives of expatriate Bangladeshis and make a positive contribution to the national economy.