September 13, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 12, 1429

RIYADH, Sept 12: Saudi Arabia has stopped issuing visa for domestic helpers and farm workers from Bangladesh, Waheedur Rahman, a senior Bangladeshi diplomat in Riyadh, told the local press.

While Bangladeshi workers in other job categories are continuing to arrive in the kingdom, those already here, including doctors and nurses, are uncertain about staying on much longer, he added.

Around 8,000 Bangladeshi housemaids had arrived before April this year at an average rate of 300 a month, he added.

“Starting April 2008, no domestic helpers including housemaids, drivers and agriculture labour are being recruited to work in Saudi Arabia, although no official notification was given by labour ministry to the embassy in this regard,” Mr Rahman added.

Analysts here say that negative media coverage about Bangladeshis involved in criminal activities in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Gulf could be the reason why Bangladeshi nationals in Saudi Arabia are in this fix.