The foreign ministry has clarified that most of the passengers of the US embassy chartered flights were Bangladesh-born US citizens.
The clarification came as the return of US citizens in two chartered flights from Dhaka in a week was deemed by many as the government’s failure to take adequate preparations for the coronavirus outbreak.
The foreign ministry said about 85 percent of US-bound passengers are Bangladeshi-born US citizens and PRs who travel to reunite with their families and accompany them during the time when they need them most.
A significant number of PRs had to travel back to the US before the deadline period, a legal obligation that needs to be obliged by all PRs, it said in a statement on Sunday.
“So far the government has facilitated six special flights including two flights to the US consisting of over 900 passengers.
“Most of them being regular visitors arriving in Bangladesh before the COVID-19 outbreak became stranded as the regular flight operations were suspended,” the foreign ministry said.
“As they started to contact the embassies and request for the repatriation, embassies undertook measures in collaboration with the government to arrange charter flights.”
The foreign ministry said the government has put forth its “best efforts” to help out the foreign citizens in Bangladesh.
“Government has extended its wholehearted cooperation to the foreign missions in Dhaka who sought assistance to take their citizens and PRs keen to stand by their family members during this crisis period”.
The foreign ministry said a large number of Japanese and Russians who have left and are in the process of leaving were engaged in different projects which are currently not in operation.
So these experts and consultants have decided to join their families as currently they do not have much work. As soon as the situation normalizes, all of them are expected to return, the government statement said.
Among other cases, a good number of foreign students studying in Bangladesh have flown back and are in the process of leaving Bangladesh as all the educational institutions are presently closed.
“In the same spirit, the government remains committed to providing adequate health facilities and support to the foreign citizens and PRs living inside the country, particularly diplomats and their families.”