Coronavirus: Some Bangladeshi expats to be brought back, says minister

Amid the growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic which is ravaging the entire world, the government has decided to bring back Bangladeshi expatriates from some countries on humanitarian grounds after scrutiny, UNB reports.

The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry on Sunday, said Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad.

He said the government has taken steps for ensuring food, medical services and other necessary things for the expatriates living in different countries and the government has allocated Tk 4.5 crore to this end.

In the first phase, the government will bring back 316 Bangladeshis from Kuwait on a flight and send relief materials and food for Bangladeshi nationals living there, the minister said.

Meanwhile, 150 Bangladeshis working in South Korea and 26 students pursuing study there, who returned home earlier, will be sent to South Korea by a chartered flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, he added.

In case of accommodation crisis, the Bangladeshi mission concerned has been asked to extend necessary assistance in this regard, Imran said.

It was also decided at the meeting to provide financial help or loans through Probashi Kallyan Bank for the rehabilitation of the expatriates coming to the country.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, who was present at the meeting, said the expatriates who will be brought back will be kept in compulsory quarantine.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen also attended the meeting. “It’s our moral duty to stand by the Bangladeshi expatriates. They’ll be brought back following requests made from different countries,” he said.