Bangladesh requests Kuwait to start flights for migrants’ return
Dhaka has requested Kuwait to start flights allowing migrants stranded in Bangladesh to return to their workplace in the Gulf nation.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the request at a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart Dr Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah today. In response to Bangladesh's request, Dr Ahmad Naser said they will hold a meeting on the issue in two days and take a decision.
Kuwait suspended international flights on March 13 to control the spread of coronavirus. However, it started partial operation of flights from some countries but operation of flights from Bangladesh remain suspended.
About 15,000 Bangladeshis, who had come home on leave are now stuck here. Visas and work permits of many migrants have either expired or will expire soon.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said, "Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has raised the issue with Kuwait's foreign minister that the stranded Bangladeshi migrants are frustrated as they cannot return to their work in Kuwait."
Momen went on a two-day visit to Kuwait Sunday with a special message from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the death of Kuwait's former Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who died at the age of 91 last Tuesday. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also accompanied the minister.
Earlier in the day, the foreign minister met with the new Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah and conveyed the condolence message of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government and the people of Bangladesh at the death of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
He handed over two letters of Bangladesh President Md Abdul Hamid – one condoling the death of former Emir and the other greeting the new Emir.
He mentioned that the former Emir was very generous towards the Bangladeshis working in Kuwait.
Momen also conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Hasina and invited the new Emir to visit Bangladesh post Covid-19. He expressed gratitude to the Emir for Kuwait's cooperation towards the welfare of Bangladeshi migrants.
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