Different foreign missions in Dhaka have started to send their staff and nationals to their respective home countries on special flights from last week due to coronavirus outbreak in the country, embassy officials said.
The US Embassy provided options to its staff in Dhaka for ‘Authorized departure’ under which some of the diplomats left for home.
It has been observed that their work here is not that much necessary right now, an official said.
It is learnt that the US is going to arrange a special flight this week for its nationals, who intend to go home.
The US is in a more comfortable position as its government, despite closing all air routes, kept open the London and Manchester airways .
However, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is ready to provide all out assistance to the foreign missions in sending back their nationals.
‘We are also committed to provide full protection and security to the diplomats working in Dhaka during this time of crisis’ he told the FE.
“We have also told them that they can arrange special flights to take their nationals to home”, he said..
The foreign minister had meetings with the diplomats in three phases to discuss the virus outbreak situation and the possible measures to protect the foreign nationals in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the UK High Commission, on Friday, urged its nationals to go home by availing these opportunities.
The High Commission feels that at this time of crisis, British national should stay in their country, an official of the High Commission told the FE.
Among them Bhutan and Malaysia arranged special flights for their citizens, who were staying in Bangladesh.
139 Bhutanese nationals left home on a special flight of the Druk Air in the early hours of last Thursday.
Earlier, Malaysian High Commission arranged a special flight for their nationals on which 225 Malaysians left for home.
However, none of the diplomats working in these missions left home until now, officials added.
