The government is working to find ways for bringing back Bangladeshi nationals who got stuck in a number of cities in India, officials said.
There are broadly three categories of Bangladesh nationals currently in India – who are willing to stay back but facing cash crisis, students and those who are released from hospitals after necessary treatment, an official told UNB on Sunday.
Talking to UNB, another official said they are still counting the figures and as of now it is less than 500.
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.
Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi will have a meeting to discuss ways how this issue can be addressed, said an official.
Meanwhile, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam has urged the Bangladesh citizens in India, who are yet to be registered, to get enlisted with Bangladesh High Commission including their names, locations, passport numbers, age and mobile phone numbers.
“We’re hearing that some Bangladesh citizens got stuck and they are facing problems to stay there,” he said adding that High Commission has already prepared a primary list.Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi can be reached through 8595552494 while Mumbai Mission can be reached by 9833159930. The State Minister said it will be helpful for them to take next step if they get a complete list.
“Until we are able to bring you back to Bangladesh, we will try to make sure that local authorities take care of your demands,” he said in a Facebook message.
The State Minister said, those who are willing to return will have to go for 14 days quarantine either at Ashkona Hajj Camp or hospitals.
It is not yet decided whether the Bangladesh nationals will be brought back by a chartered flight, an official told UNB.
Meanwhile, there might an alternative arrangement for those who are in Kolkata,he said.
India is currently going through a 21-day lockdown to slow the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the British government has said they have no plans to introduce repatriation flights from Dhaka but are monitoring the situation closely.
British High Commission in Dhaka has said they are working with the Bangladesh authorities and airlines to support British nationals who want to leave Bangladesh and return to the UK.
“We have been told that flights will resume on 7 April and we are monitoring this closely,” said the High Commission in its latest travel advisory on Sunday.
The British government is “prioritising repatriation flights” in countries where there are very large numbers of stranded British nationals, where there have been no commercial options available for some time, and where no further flights are scheduled for the foreseeable future, the latest travel advisory reads.
