Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan conveyed the updates during a telephone conversation with his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Momen on Wednesday morning.

“They (Singapore government) are doing the best to take care of him (Bangladesh citizen) with top medical services,” Dr Momen told reporters after attending a function in the city.

He said the 39-year-old Bangladesh citizen has been suffering from respiratory, kidney problem and phenomena before he got infected with the coronavirus. He has been in the intensive care unit for the last 13 days.

“He (Singapore Foreign Minister) informed that medicine given to Bangladesh citizen isn’t responding,” Dr Momen said adding that the Singapore authorities remain very sensitive and supportive to Bangladesh community in Singapore.   

The Singapore government is bearing all the medical cost for the infected Bangladesh citizens who are undergoing treatment there.

“I assure you we’ll do whatever necessary on our own cost,” Dr Momen quoted the Singapore Foreign Minister as saying.

The Foreign Minister also inquired about the further process if the Bangladeshi loses the battle for life and his family members subsequently seek his body back.

In reply, the Singapore Foreign Minister said, “Yes, we’ll make the necessary arrangements.” 

For maintaining privacy of the patient, the Singapore authorities do not want to make the name public but shared it with Foreign Minister Dr Momen. 

Five Bangladesh citizens have so far been infected with coronavirus in Singapore, according to Singapore Health Ministry.

Indian PM’s Visit

Foreign Minister Dr Momen said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Bangladesh next month to attend the birth centenary celebrations of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Confirming Modi’s visit, he said there will be a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on it.

Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will also visit Bangladesh in the first week of March before the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Dr Momen said, adding that they will finalise the exact date of Modi’s arrival soon. 

Labour Market in Malaysia

The Foreign Minister said a Malaysian delegation, led by a minister, will soon visit Bangladesh which might lead to good news on the labour front.

He said the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment will know better about the matter.  

Earlier, the Foreign Minister attended the opening session of the two-day second brainstorming session on ‘OIC Reform’ in a city hotel.