DHAKA, June 10, 2020 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen today urged the United Arab Emirates to take necessary steps so that Bangladeshi expatriate workers in the oil-rich nation would not be forced to return here due to job cut amid COVIOD-19 pandemic.
Momen made the urge while talking to UAE’s foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan over telephone today, a foreign ministry press release said here.
During the conversation, the Bangladesh foreign minister also urged the UAE government to take measures so that Bangladeshi workers in the UAE can get at least six-month salary and other facilities in case of losing their jobs due to the pandemic.
Noting that expatriate Bangladeshi workers have been contributing to development of the UAE, Momen also requested Sayegh to take initiatives for ensuring food supply to the expatriate workers there in this crisis moment.
The UAE foreign minister assured Bangladesh foreign minister that the UAE government would take proper measures in this regard.
The foreign minister sought support of the UAE in forming the “COVID-19 Recovery & Response Fund” to help the migrant workers who have been in dire consequences in different countries due to the pandemic that has pushed more than half of the humankind in some sort of lockdown.
Dr Momen urged the UAE to import fresh vegetables and halal chicken and beef from Bangladesh.
Besides, he suggested that the UAE could utilize Bangladeshi expatriate workers in further development of its agriculture sector.
The UAE minister assured that the bilateral partnership and cooperation between Bangladesh and the UAE would be continued in the days to come.
As the current chair of OIC, the UAE sought Bangladesh’s support in bringing reforms in the OIC’s management, manpower and financial structure.
Dr Momen also thanked the UAE for sending different medical supplies including masks and sanitizers to help Bangladesh combating with the COVID-19 pandemic.