Foreign-Affairs
US-Bangla Airlines brings back 48 Bangladeshis from Bangkok
US-Bangla Airlines has brought back a number of Bangladeshis stranded in Bangkok by a special flight amid coronavirus outbreak.
Vessels carrying Rohingyas at Sea: UNHCR seeks strong search, rescue efforts
In light of reports of vessels in similar circumstances carrying Rohingyas still at sea, the UNHCR strongly sought "stepped-up search and rescue efforts" that need to be conducted in a timely manner.
2 more boats carrying Rohingyas still adrift at sea, 60 die, claims Fortify Rights
The government of Malaysia should urgently coordinate regional governments to deploy search and rescue missions for boats of Rohingya refugees adrift at sea and ensure their safe disembarkation, said Fortify Rights on Friday.
US-Bangla Airlines to operate flights to bring back stranded Bangladeshis from India
US-Bangla Airlines will operate special flights to bring back Bangladesh nationals who got stranded in Chennai and Kolkata due to countrywide lockdown in India amid coronavirus outbreak.
Kamrul Islam, General Manager (Public Relations) of the US-Bangla Airlines, confirmed it to UNB over phone on Friday.
He said they will operate six special flights on Chennai-Dhaka route from April 20-25.
Two more special flights will bring back the Bangladeshis from Kolkata to Dhaka on April 21 and April 23, he added.
Some 2500 Bangladesh nationals including over 1000 students got stuck in different Indian cities due to current lockdown there, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier on March 30, UNB reported that there are broadly three categories of Bangladesh nationals currently in India - who are willing to stay back until situation improves but facing cash crisis, students and those who are released from hospitals after necessary treatment.
Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi is in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here to work out a proper plan as these Bangladesh citizens in India are not just from one city.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Bangladesh Missions in India are looking into welfare issues of Bangladesh nationals in India.
Officials at the Missions are in constant contact with Bangladesh citizens in India over phone.
30 Rohingyas might have passed away at sea, says UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, on Thursday night said around 30 Rohingya people may have passed away at sea as the boat ran out of food, water and fuel during a nearly two-month long journey at sea.
SANEM welcomes stimulus packages, wants joint monitoring unit
South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) has recommended setting up a unit to monitor the entire process saying it is important to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the stimulus packages to address the impact of coronavirus.
300 Australian citizens, PRs to leave for Melbourne tonight
Around 300 Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families will leave Dhaka for Melbourne on Thursday night by a chartered flight of Sri Lankan Airlines.
Bangladesh to provide loans to returnee migrants
The government on Tuesday said it will arrange loans for returnee migrant workers to enable them pursue viable income activities, particularly in the agriculture sector.
The loans, to be arranged by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment will be up to Tk 500,000-700,000.
Meanwhile, the government announced that every Bangladeshi returnee will be given Tk 5,000 on arrival at the airport as conveyance and the families of expatriate workers who died of coronavirus will be given Tk 300,000 each.
In continuation of two previous meetings to address the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, particularly repatriation of stranded Bangladeshi citizens abroad, the third meeting of the same nature was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which discussed the issues.
The meeting was presided over by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Imran Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Principal Staff Officer (Armed Forces Division), Chairman Civil Aviation Authority, secretaries and senior officials from different ministries, divisions, and agencies were present at the meeting.
A range of issues relating to repatriation, nationality verification, quarantine, relief for the expatriates, coordination among departments, sending medicines and medical equipment to friendly countries, post repatriation preparedness were discussed elaborately.
As a goodwill gesture, a medical team equipped with medical gadgets and medicine from the Armed Forces Division has been sent to help Kuwait in this critical moment.
Also, as a friendly gesture, Bangladesh is sending food stuff, medicines, medical equipment and other items to Maldives, the Foreign Ministry said.
A consignment of medicines and medical items will be sent to Bhutan shortly. Bangladesh is also planning to send similar items to other countries in need.
The Armed Forces Division (AFD), in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has been working to prepare quarantine centres at different places in Dhaka and other districts with a capacity of around 4,000 persons for institutional quarantine.
The AFD has been in close liaison with the Health Ministry and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh for post-arrival formalities including quarantine of the returnees.
Foreign Ministry will coordinate with CAAB for smooth airport reception and ease in landing permission of special flights carrying Bangladesh nationals from different countries.
Govt, humanitarian community to ensure health services in Rohingya camps: IOM
The government and the humanitarian community, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), are now delivering a "wide array of supports" to ensure that health services for both Rohingyas and the host community are ready.
3 Bangladeshi corona patients die in Qatar, over 500 infected: Envoy
Three Bangladeshi nationals have so far died from coronavirus in Qatar while more than 500 are undergoing treatment at different hospitals there after being diagnosed with the deadly virus.
"Over 500 Bangladesh nationals in Qatar have tested positive for coronavirus and they’re undergoing treatment in various hospitals there. Three of the Bangladesh nationals died while undergoing treatment, " Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Ashud Ahmed told UNB.
The number of Bangladeshis infected with coronavirus may rise further as the total number of cases in Qarar is growing, officials said.
Qatar has so far recorded seven coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Besides, a total of 3,428 cases were confirmed in that country until Tuesday.
According to Qatar’s Health Ministry, a total of 373 Covid-19 patients made full recovery from the disease.
The ministry called on community members to adhere strictly to precautions and preventive measures and social distancing to lessen their chances of getting infected by the virus, according to the Gulf News.
About 3.5 lakh workers from Bangladesh are currently employed in Qatar, according to officials in Dhaka.