New diplomatic zone in Purbachal: foreign minister

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that government is planning to set up a new diplomatic zone at Purbachal in Dhaka due to shortage of land in Gulshan and Baridhara diplomatic zone.

"Necessary coordination with the authorities, including RAJUK and Ministry of Housing and Public Works over the matter is under process," Momen informed the parliament today.

He was replying to queries in the parliament. His answer was tabled at the onset of the sitting of the day.

Currently, 10 foreign embassies have applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for plots to set up their missions. In particular, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Oman, Kuwait, Myanmar and Afghanistan have requested for plots since opening their diplomatic missions in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh missions across the world do not have any legal desk to provide legal aid to the expatriate workers, Momen said while answering queries of another MP.

The Bangladesh missions, however, provide all types of legal assistance to the migrant Bangladeshis in case of unexpected problems, he added.

The minister said that government provides funds to Bangladesh missions abroad in cases where they need to help Bangladeshi nationals in jail or facing other problems.

Giving example, Momen said recently the foreign ministry has provided legal help to Bangladeshis detained in Kolkata and Assam in India.