It is difficult to imagine the fear and stress that a person can go through while stranded in a foreign land away from their families, running out of money, with no discernible way of coming back home.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what has happened to thousands of Bangladeshis abroad during the coronavirus pandemic, with countries closing their borders down to prevent the further spread of the virus.
Nowhere is this more prominent than in India, where around 2,500 Bangladeshi nationals are now stuck.
And we cannot leave them alone to fend for themselves.
It must be understood that many of these people are students or had to stay back for health purposes and treatment and, as such, went there with limited resources with which to take care of themselves.
And, in this regard, we are pleased to note that the government has taken steps to ensure their successful repatriation, with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen providing some much-needed assurance in these times of uncertainty, stating that this is indeed a priority.
It is commendable that the Bangladesh High Commission has been keeping in constant contact with everyone concerned – from the students, to the universities, to Dhaka – to ensure that concerns are addressed.
Two special flights have already been scheduled to bring back people from Kolkata in the coming week, and we hope that such arrangements continue to be made to ensure successful repatriation as quickly as people need them.
After all, in such a situation, our government’s presence abroad is absolutely instrumental to a Bangladeshi’s wellbeing, both physically and mentally, and it is the duty of the government in general to ensure that our citizens are taken care of, no matter where they are.