Dhaka : Biman Bangladesh Airlines has introduced an exclusive "worker fare" for Bangladeshi labors traveling to Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, said Biman's Managing Director and CEO Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman on February 11.

The move is aimed at curbing rising airfares and reducing migration costs. "We have taken this initiative in line with the government's efforts to lower migration expenses," added the airline's chief.

The national flag carrier approved the reduced fare scheme on February 10, which came into effect from February 11, specifically for passengers traveling on new employment visas, claimed the Biman boss.

Reports cited Biman's Director of Marketing and Sales Ashraful Alam saying, the special fare applies exclusively to one-way tickets for newly employed expatriate workers traveling to various destinations in Saudi Arabia and Kuala Lumpur. The offer will remain valid until June 30.

Under the new fare structure, base fares-excluding taxes-have been set at USD 360 for flights on the Dhaka-Jeddah, Dhaka-Medina, and Dhaka-Riyadh routes, and USD 150 for the Dhaka-Kuala Lumpur route.

According to Biman, regular base fare for Saudi Arabia-bound flights currently ranges between USD 430 and USD 480, while base fare for Kuala Lumpur stands at USD 360.

The move followed Asso-ciation of Travel Agents of Bangla-desh's proposal during an urgent meeting with Biman's chief on January 22.

ATAB, led by its President Abdus Salam Aref, has been engaged in discussions with Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB), and Biman Bangladesh Airlines to address the issue of rising airfares.