DHAKA, Jan 27, 2020 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the
foreign ministry to initiate steps to bring back the “willing to return”
Bangladeshis who are now stranded in China due to outbreak of deadly
coronavirus, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam said today.
“We’ve started discussions with the Chinese government in this regard” in
line with the premier’s directives, Alam said in a Facebook post.
He added that the foreign office planned to discuss the issue with Chinese
authorities in coronavirus-prone regions to find out ways for their return as
they enforced travel lockdowns, barring entry and exits of people.
Alam said the foreign office would issue a primary directive by today to
prepare a list of citizens who are willing to return.
“Our main purpose is the safety of our citizens,” the state minister said.
Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing already opened a 24-hour hotline to reach
out expatriate Bangladeshis if they need any emergency support due to the
virus.
The hotline number is +86 178-0111-6005 and it has been circulated to
Bangladeshi expatriates, especially students and researchers residing across
China.
Alam said an estimated 300 to 400 Bangladeshi students were now in Wuhan,
the virus epicenter.
Bangladesh embassy in Beijing earlier said they were in touch with the
students in Wuhan.
The toll from China’s viral epidemic spiked on Monday to 80 dead with
hundreds of new infections despite unprecedented quarantines and travel
lockdowns, as foreign governments scrambled to help their trapped citizens.