Charter flights to relocate the Bangladeshis
Bangladesh is deeply concerned at the recent escalation of violence in Ukraine, the foreign ministry said in a statement yesterday.
"Such violence would seriously impact the peace and stability of the whole region," the statement read, adding that Bangladesh urges all parties to resolve the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi authorities are planning to operate charter flights to Poland for relocating citizens who moved from Ukraine, said Shahriar Alam, state minister for foreign affairs, yesterday.
"We are in talks with the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh. If need be, we will operate charter flights," he said.
Some 2,500 Bangladeshis reside across various states in Ukraine. Bangladesh embassy in Poland advised them to move to Poland's borders.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Poland, Sultana Laila Hossain, said they were creating WhatsApp groups to connect with them.
"We have created a group of 500 Bangladeshis," she added.
She also said they were in talks with the Polish authorities to ensure temporary visas for the Bangladeshis leaving Ukraine.
Poland allows two-week transit visas in general. If the situation improves in Ukraine, Bangladeshis can return to Ukraine or they can go to Bangladesh, she said.
For those without passports, the Bangladesh embassy could issue travel permits to facilitate their travel to Poland, she said.
State Minister Shahriar Alam said anyone who needs help can contact the WhatsApp number +48527094381.
Officials from Bangladesh embassies in Germany and Italy will also move to Poland for supporting the Bangladesh embassy in Poland for this emergency, he said.
Talking to The Daily Star, Mofizur Rahman, a Bangladeshi stranded in Ukraine, said he and four others headed towards Poland as they got to know that the country opened its border.
"We have all the documents with us and we expect to have access to Poland… The roads are heavily jammed by hundreds of vehicles. Our car could not move an inch for half an hour," Mofizur said at 6:30pm.
He also said he had to wait for two hours in a queue to get fuel for their vehicle.
Bangladeshis in Ukraine said those who live in the Eastern Ukrainian states including Odesa, Donetsk and Luhansk were fearing more for the conflict as Russian attacks are mostly confined to those areas for now.
Mohammad Rizvi, a Bangladeshi student in Odesa, said they were stranded in the state as there was no car or flight available.
"There were blasts in parts of Odesa. We are afraid. Our university has asked us not to panic," he said, adding that they wish to move to countries like Poland.
According to him, there would be around 500 Bangladeshis -- mostly students and businessmen -- in Odesa.
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