Bangladesh
Expat Workers Cabinet instructs expat workers not to return back to Bangladesh during coronavirus pandemic
Dhaka, July 15: The cabinet, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Health and Expatriate Welfare, directed to take strong steps to increase the foreign income and prevent the return of workers from abroad. The directive was given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment at a virtual cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
In a briefing after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam said the activities of the Ministry of External Affairs during the Covid-19 epidemic were presented at the cabinet meeting.
Regarding the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Cabinet Secretary said, “Economic and diplomatic activities such as: 65 lakh PPEs have been exported from Bangladesh to the United States. Import and export of various medicines related to Covid, ensuring food and services to legal and illegal Bangladeshi expatriates, repatriation of dismissed and paying six months salary and allowances if possible, employment of expatriate workers abroad and establishment of small enterprises. Contact has been received for the formation of funds in those countries. It has received a positive response and those of us who have lost our jobs abroad have been able to return to work under our own management."
"The Prime Minister herself requested the Prime Minister of Sweden for the purchase of the garment industry, in its view Sweden revised. Most of the canceled orders were taken back due to the diplomatic activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the Cabinet Secretary said.
The cabinet secretary said there was a special arrangement for foreign diplomats so that they could be given proper treatment if they were infected with covid. The State Department has been in contact with potential vaccine inventors from the outset in coordination with the Ministry of Health to procure the corona vaccine. As a result, their efforts have played a big role in the possibility of getting a vaccine.
Regarding the activities of international and regional forums, he said, "The Prime Minister has participated in the SAARC Summit and money from Bangladesh has also been donated to the SAARC Fund. She gave a video message to the United Nations.
