foreign-affairs
214 Canadians leave Bangladesh
A total of 214 Canadian citizens left Dhaka by a chartered flight after 9pm on Tuesday.
UAE reconsidering ties with countries refusing to take back nationals: Embassy
The United Arab Emirates is considering options to restructure its cooperation and labour relations with countries refusing to receive their nationals working in UAE private sector, its embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Pahela Baishakh: US, Australian envoys greet Bangladeshis
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller and Australian High Commissioner in Dhaka Jeremy Bruer on Tuesday greeted Bangladeshis on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year.
Covid-19: Govt yet to receive any fund from Japan to support prevention bid
The government of Bangladesh has not yet received any fund from the government of Japan to support Bangladesh's efforts to fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, says an official.
Bangladesh, US partner to help US citizens return home by 3rd chartered flight
The US Embassy in Dhaka on Monday helped several hundred American citizens and family members return to the United States as part of its response to the global challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stranded foreigners can extend their stay in India until April 30
Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to extend stay for the foreign nationals who got stranded in India due to travel restrictions amid coronavirus pandemic worldwide until April 30.
ADB triples COVID-19 response package to $20bn
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday tripled the size of its response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to $20 billion and approved measures to streamline its operations for quicker and more flexible delivery of assistance.
Bangladesh proposes postponement of Dhaka D8 Summit
Bangladesh has proposed postponement of D8 Summit, which was scheduled to take place in Dhaka at the end of May.
One-minute silence observed for COVID-19 migrant victims
To mourn migrants and nationals who died of COVID 19 both at home and abroad, Bangladesh Civil Society for Migration (BCSM), Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) and Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) jointly observed a one-minute silence on Sunday morning.
OKUP concerned at ‘pushback’ of ‘undocumented’ Bangladeshi migrants
The Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme (OKUP) has expressed concerns at the decision by some labour receiving countries to send back so-called undocumented Bangladeshi migrant workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It is “inhuman, cruel and unjust”, the organisation said in a statement on Sunday. OKUP said the move would affect the lives of numerous migrants and their families.
The organisation noted that Bangladesh is currently not in a position to receive the huge number of migrant workers. “We strongly protest the decision taken by some labour receiving countries,” it said.
OKUP said the migrant workers are victims of the whole recruitment system, primarily the ‘kafala’ or ‘sponsorship’ recruitment system. It said migrant workers contribute a lot to the overall development of the countries of destination.
“We appeal to the governments of those labour receiving countries to annul their decision at this moment of global COVID-19 pandemic,” the organisation said.
Expatriate Bangladeshi workers sent back $16.42 billion in remittance in the 2018-19 fiscal year. In the first two months of this year, expatriates sent back $3.1 billion.
OKUP recommend Bangladesh to prepare a multi-year plan for the repatriation of its ‘undocumented migrant workers’ and carry out strong negotiation and lobby with the government of those countries for their cooperation in systematic repatriation rather than a sudden ‘push back’.
Bangladesh can raise the issue in the regional platform of labour sending countries like ‘Colombo Process’ and seek their cooperation to deal with the concerns jointly.
“We recommend that the government must prepare a comprehensive ‘Plan of Action’ for short-term, mid-term and long-term reintegration and livelihoods of the returnees,” OKUP said.
The short-term plan may include emergency supports upon return; the mid-term is to assist the returnees in starting alternative income generation activities while the long-term mega-plan should focus on creating sustainable livelihoods for all Bangladeshi workers in the changing global economic landscape caused by the impact of COVID-19.
Ministries, departments, development partners, and other stakeholders including migrants’ organisations could work together in this regard, it said.
“We draw due attention of the government of Bangladesh for a sincere assessment and review of the whole recruitment system, take necessary actions to ensure improved recruitment system, and make sure accountability of key actors in the recruitment practices in the post COVID-19 era,” OKUP said.
“We want equal protection and services for the migrant workers irrespective of their status in all countries of destination in this pandemic situation of COVID -19,” the organisation said.