The outbreak of deadly coronavirus appears to have started impacting Bangladesh’s workforce abroad, as some countries are putting pressure on the government to bring back Bangladeshis from those countries.
Succumbing to the pressure, the government has already decided to repatriate 316 Bangladeshis from Kuwait and 176 from South Korea by chartered flights.
Apart from South Korea, the countries are asking the government to bring back mainly undocumented Bangladeshis. Some 150 employed and 26 studying in South Korea will be repatriated.
The decision was taken on Sunday in an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. Presided over by Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, the meeting was attended, among others, by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad said that the government decided to bring Bangladeshis from some countries on ‘humanitarian ground’ after scrutiny.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen, however, said that the decision was taken following the pressures of some unnamed countries.
When asked by reporters after the meeting if Bangladesh is under pressure from those countries, he said, “We are under pressure to some extent. But, all the countries are under pressure.”
The foreign minister said, “We sat today (Sunday) to decide how many Bangladeshis we will bring back. We will take decisions based on reality. And, we are not taking blanket decisions.”
As asked how many countries have asked to take back Bangladeshis, he said, “Not so many countries….Few countries… 4-5 countries. But you know the number of our people is big. Even if it is one country, there are many people. I cannot specify any number now. For the time being it is Kuwait. About other countries, we will examine.”
About Bangladeshis in the Maldives, Dr Momen said, “The foreign minister of the Maldives phoned me and said there are a large number of undocumented Bangladeshis in his country. He called upon the undocumented Bangladeshis to register their names and our high commissioner in that country is also encouraging for registration.”
Since tourism sector, on which the Maldives relies, is being affected some of the undocumented Bangladeshis might be sent back, he said, expressing hope that all Bangladeshis will not be sent back.
The government of the Maldives is helping the Bangladeshis, who are there legally, said the minister.
To a question, Dr Momen said, “Few countries have contacted us. At this moment, we don’t want to name the names.”
Every country will be dealt with case by case and the government is considering those countries first where Bangladeshis might suffer due to inaction, he said.
To another questioner, the minister said that the people who are talked about now are ‘basically undocumented’ (Bangladeshis).
“It’s not that big a problem. But, it is difficult problem as we are passing through a bad time now,” he added.
Striking a note of optimism, Dr Momen said, “I think given our relations with these countries we will not have to face any difficult problem. We are trying to enhance the relations. We are optimistic.”
In reply to a question, he said that the countries concerned have already been requested to help the Bangladeshis on humanitarian ground.
About the response, he said, “I must say every country is very sympathetic to us. They are also in trouble.”
Minister Imran said that diplomatic efforts are on to extend the visas and work permits of the expatriate Bangladeshis.
Efforts are also taken so that terminated workers are placed in other places instead of sending them back to Bangladesh, he said.
It has also been decided in the meeting that letters jointly signed by him and the foreign minister will be sent to the relevant ministries of those countries, Imran said.
He also said that diplomatic missions have been instructed to provide necessary assistance if the expatriates face housing problem.
A decision has been taken to provide financial assistance for the rehabilitation of those who will return to the country, he added.