Bangladesh has ‘temporarily’ suspended visa on-arrival provision for Chinese nationals as part of the coronavirus prevention strategy. The government also ‘requested’ the Chinese nationals working in various development projects in Bangladesh to avoid traveling China in next one month.
“We have decided to stop issuing on-arrival visa for the Chinese nationals temporarily but they can enter the country by obtaining visa (from Bangladesh mission in Beijing) after producing medical certificate to prove that they are not carrying the (corona) virus,” foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters on Sunday.
He was briefing reporter on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming Italy visit from February 4.
The foreign minister said they had already informed the Chine ambassador here about the decision and “they don’t have any objection on it.”
“We are also requesting the Chinese nationals working in various development projects here to avoid traveling China in next one month. Side by Side, we also discourage the Chinese nationals to travel Bangladesh amid the outbreak of the virus,” he said.
Coronavirus, which is declared as the international health emergency, has been originated from China’s Wuhan city. So far, 304 people in China were killed from the infection. Bangladesh brought back citizens who wanted to come back from Wuhan in a chartered plane.
The foreign minister said he also suggested the Chinese authorities not to deploy new staff from China in their ongoing development projects here.
He, however, ruled out speculations of hampering Bangladesh-China trade relations due to outbreak of the virus.
The government installed thermal scanner in all international airports for the screening of all people coming from outside.