Staff Reporter :
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 500,000-700,00.
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.
