Special Correspondent: The interim government has set the one-way airfare on the Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh route at Tk 20,500 for expatriate Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia with the aim of ensuring affordable air travel for them.
The special fare will be applicable to travel to Bangladesh from April 18 to May 25, 2026, and to return journeys from Bangladesh between May 30 and June 30, 2026.
The move is expected to make visits home more accessible and affordable for migrant workers and their families, according to the information shared by the chief adviser`s press wing on Friday. Under the special scheme, the minimum one-way fare on the Madinah-Dhaka and Jeddah-Dhaka routes has been set at Tk 20,500. The minimum fare for the Madinah-Dhaka-Madinah and Jeddah-Dhaka-Jeddah routes has been set at Tk 42,000.
According to travel agency officials, the usual price of a one-way Biman Bangladesh Airlines ticket on the Saudi Arabia-Bangladesh route ranges between Tk 37,000 and Tk 47,000, while a return ticket costs between Tk 75,000 and Tk 95,000.
Describing the initiative as an important milestone in implementing expatriate-friendly policies, interim government`s chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, expressed his appreciation to civil aviation and tourism ministry adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin for taking the step.
He said that such practical decisions would make the lives of expatriate Bangladeshis easier and contribute positively to the national economy.
The chief adviser, however, cautioned that while many positive initiatives for expatriates had been taken in the past, some failed due to lack of proper follow-ups. `It must be ensured that this initiative is implemented effectively and in full,` he said.
Civil aviation and tourism adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin said that a total of 80,000 tickets would be sold under the special arrangement covering routes between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh. He said that while the initiative would significantly benefit expatriate workers, it would also bring notable financial gains for the state-owned carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
He explained that the initiative would make effective use of previously underutilised one-way empty flights, particularly during Hajj operations.
As a result, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has the potential for earning more than Tk 100 crore in additional revenue, he said.