The government of Oman yesterday repatriated 288 Bangladeshi workers who were imprisoned or were about to be deported on various grounds, including not having valid documents.

It has not yet been decided how much of their sentences they will serve out after return, and it may depend on the nature of their crimes, said foreign ministry sources.

"Carrying the Bangladeshi citizens, a special flight of Oman Air landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 6:48pm," Group Captain AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan, director, HSIA, told media.

In the last month, Oman sent back 180 Bangladesh nationals to the country.

According to media reports, the Oman government has taken steps to repatriate the expatriate prisoners in prisons like other countries in the Middle East, following the coronavirus outbreak.

Under the special amnesty of the Sultan of the country, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Oman started the process of sending expatriates from different countries including Bangladesh, India and Pakistan from last month.