QATAR’S DISPUTE WITH GULF NATIONS

Employment of Bangladeshis drops

The ongoing diplomatic dispute between Qatar and some SaudiArabia-led Gulf nations appears to have started impacting Bangladesh and diplomatic sources believes if it lingers, the effect will be more serious especially on the labour market in Qatar.

Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5 accusing Doha of aiding terrorism, which is vehemently denied by the Qatari government.

The first sign of impact of this row on Bangladesh appears to be a significant drop of employment of Bangladeshis in Qatar, said the sources.

“Yes, the number of recruitment of our people in Qatar in June fell as compared with May,” Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Ashud Ahmed told The Independent yesterday over telephone.

“Most probably, the ongoing dispute has had an effect on the decline,” he said, expressing optimism that the row will be over soon.

There is also a small decline in the recruitment of Bangladeshis to Saudi Arabia as well since the beginning of the dispute, sources said.

According to the statistics on the website of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), some 5,588 Bangladeshis workers travelled to Qatar in June, 2017 as compared with 9,600 in the month of May.

The figure of July is also not looking good, said the sources, adding that the ongoing dispute is all but certainly responsible for this decline and things will be worse if the row lingers.

In January, the number of employment for Bangladeshis in Qatar was 9,382, it was 8,590 in February, 7,963 in March and 10,726 in April, according to BMET.

The number of Bangladeshis employed in Qatar in June was the lowest  

The recruitment to Saudi Arabia, the largest destination for Bangladeshi workers, saw a little decline in June compared with May.

In June, 40,376 Bangladeshis were recruited in the kingdom while the number was 45,796 in May.

The sources would not read too much into the small decline in Saudi Arabia, saying that it is within the range of ups and downs throughout the year. They hoped that the dispute will be over soon.

Ambassador Ahmed also said, “As of now, the impact on Bangladeshi workers is not that visible. But, if it goes on and on, certainly the employment of our people will be affected.”

“As we speak, our people in Qatar are okay,” he said while replying to a question.

QATARS DISPUTE WITH GULF NATIONS

Employment of Bangladeshis drops

The ongoing diplomatic dispute between Qatar and some SaudiArabia-led Gulf nations appears to have started impacting Bangladesh and diplomatic sources believes if it lingers, the effect will be more serious especially on the labour market in Qatar. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar on June 5 accusing Doha of aiding terrorism, which is vehemently denied by the Qatari government. The first sign of impact of this row on Bangladesh appears to be a significant drop of employment of Bangladeshis in Qatar, said the sources. Yes, the number of recruitment of our people in Qatar in June fell as compared with May, Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Ashud Ahmed told The Independent yesterday over telephone. Most probably, the ongoing dispute has had an effect on the decline, he said, expressing optimism that the row will be over soon. There is also a small decline in the recruitment of Bangladeshis to Saudi Arabia as well since the beginning of the dispute, sources said. According to the statistics on the website of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), some 5,588 Bangladeshis workers travelled to Qatar in June, 2017 as compared with 9,600 in the month of May. The figure of July is also not looking good, said the sources, adding that the ongoing dispute is all but certainly responsible for this decline and things will be worse if the row lingers. In January, the number of employment for Bangladeshis in Qatar was 9,382, it was 8,590 in February, 7,963 in March and 10,726 in April, according to BMET. The number of Bangladeshis employed in Qatar in June was the lowest The recruitment to Saudi Arabia, the largest destination for Bangladeshi workers, saw a little decline in June compared with May. In June, 40,376 Bangladeshis were recruited in the kingdom while the number was 45,796 in May. The sources would not read too much into the small decline in Saudi Arabia, saying that it is within the range of ups and downs throughout the year. They hoped that the dispute will be over soon. Ambassador Ahmed also said, As of now, the impact on Bangladeshi workers is not that visible. But, if it goes on and on, certainly the employment of our people will be affected. As we speak, our people in Qatar are okay, he said while replying to a question.