A significant number of Bangladeshis stranded in the US due to the outbreak of coronavirus have appealed to the government to arrange flights to bring them home.
In a letter to the Foreign Ministry, they also made it clear they would pay for their flights.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen acknowledged that the ministry has received such a letter and that flights are ready, subject to advance payments for tickets.
It has been learnt from some stranded expatriates that more than a thousand Bangladeshis in different US cities cannot fly back home due to flight cancellations and airport shutdowns. These Bangladeshis, including old people, and people with diseases and children, are having a hard time.
The visas of many of the stranded Bangladeshis have already run out or are going to expire soon. Closures of hotels and unavailability of medicine is making the matter even worse.
It has been alleged that the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington and the Foreign Ministry was being indifferent to the problems being faced by the stranded Bangladeshis.
According to stranded Bangladeshis, 400 to 500 Bangladeshis have already contacted the embassy in Washington and consulates general in New York and Los Angeles. As the missions cannot take any measures without instructions from the Foreign Ministry, they have also written to the foreign minister to arrange paid flights.
Contacted by Dhaka Tribune, Foreign Minister Dr Momen said: “Yes, I have received such a letter [from stranded Bangladeshis]. We are ready to help our people in distress.
“I am not sure that there are over 1,000 stranded Bangladeshis. As far as I know a little over 200 people got in touch with our embassy in Washington and a flight was arranged. The problem is that the airline will not operate the flight before being fully paid,” he added.
“We are waiting for interested people to come up with the advance payments for their tickets. As soon as they pay, the flight or flights will be ready. Arranging flights is not a problem,” the foreign minister said.
