Expats of Corona-hit ME, European countries to get govt assistance: Minister | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025
Expats of Corona-hit ME, European countries to get govt assistance: Minister

Bangladesh

UNB
02 April, 2020, 10:50 am
Last modified: 02 April, 2020, 10:56 am

Related News

  • 10 more Covid-19 cases reported in country
  • Expatriates' remittance helps Bangladesh make turnaround: CA
  • UAE tops 50c in highest May temperature on record
  • US accepts luxury jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One for Trump
  • Qatar dismisses concerns over offer of aircraft to Trump

Expats of Corona-hit ME, European countries to get govt assistance: Minister

“The government on Monday allocated Tk 20 lakh and Tk 5 lakh for the Bangladeshi expatriates living in Dubai and Qatar respectively.”

UNB
02 April, 2020, 10:50 am
Last modified: 02 April, 2020, 10:56 am
Expats of Corona-hit ME, European countries to get govt assistance: Minister

The government will provide financial assistance to Bangladeshi expatriates, living in some European and Middle East countries, as they are facing a precarious situation due to the crisis evolved over coronavirus pandemic.
 
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad said the government has taken necessary steps so that the Bangladeshi expatriates in different countries of Europe and Middle East get financial assistance to meet their emergency needs.

"In many countries, Bangladeshi expatriates have either turned jobless or facing problems with their jobs. We've talked to the Foreign Ministry over the issue, and we'll take necessary steps to resolve the problem after discussion with the countries concerned in a coordinated way," he said.
 
Salim Reza, secretary to the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, said the expatriates suffering amid the crisis will get financial assistance for their accommodation, food, medicine and other essentials.
 
"Letters have already been sent to the missions concerned seeking lists of what kind of support are needed for the expatriates," he said.
 
The government has allocated money for the expatriates of the Corona-hit countries, said Salim adding, "The government on Monday allocated Tk 20 lakh and Tk 5 lakh for the Bangladeshi expatriates living in Dubai and Qatar respectively."
 
Replying to a question, Salim said, "We've enough fund to fulfill the basic needs of the expatriates, including accommodation, food and medicine. Now, we're providing money to them as much as they need amid the ongoing crisis. Later, we we'll think about their rehabilitation issue when it comes."
 
A hotline has been opened at the ministry and the authorities concerned are monitoring the condition of the Bangladeshi expatriates in different countries, especially in the Middle East and European countries through Bangladesh missions and embassies and by making direct phone calls, said Salim.
 
The additional secretary to the ministry has been entrusted with the responsibility, he said.
The Bangladeshi missions are involved in launching campaigns for tackling or preventing coronavirus and providing hand sanitisers, masks and gloves among the Bangladeshi expatriates, he added.
 
Hotline numbers have been opened in different Bangladesh embassies, including that of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Malaysia, Qatar, Iraq and Hong Kong, said Selim.
Mentioning that Bangladeshi expatriates are facing a perilous situation due to the pandemic, said Salim Reza adding, "We're working for the welfare of the expatriates through our labour wing."
 
Many European and Middle East countries have taken some unprecedented measures like lockdown and banning travel, aiming to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, rendering many people, including Bangladeshis, unemployed.
 
Tobarak, a Bangladeshi expatriate from Saudi Arabia, Manik Mia from the UAE, Mazharul Islam from Malaysia, Akkas Uddin from Qatar and Alamin from Dubai told the UNB correspondent that in many cases, the employers have provided salaries, food, medicines and shelter to the Bangladeshi expatriates.
 
But, he said, those who do not have permanent job are struggling a lot to survive.

They also urged the government and the community people to extend their helping hands towards them.
 
Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, General Secretary of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), said a taskforce, headed by additional secretary to the Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, Ahmed Manirus Salehin, was formed for providing necessary help to the Bangladeshi expatriates living in different countries affected by coronavirus.
 
They also put forward a proposal to the government to provide aid to the family members of those who died from coronavirus, he said.
 
Sources said Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad had a meeting with a delegation of International Organization of Migration (IOM) discussed the problems being faced by Bangladeshi expatriates in different countries.
 
Coronavirus, first reported in China in December last year, is affecting 199 countries and territories around the world and two international conveyances.
 
The global death toll from Covid-19 jumped to 42,341 as of Wednesday while Bangladesh confirmed six deaths.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Coronavirus / pandemic / qatar / UAE / Expatriates

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Govt to set up Debt Office as loan burden to hit Tk29 lakh cr by FY28
    Govt to set up Debt Office as loan burden to hit Tk29 lakh cr by FY28
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Photos: Collected
    Tarique may propose election in first week of February in meeting with CA
  • Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury speaks to journalists in Salna, Gazipur, on 12 June 2025. Photo: TBS
    No bar to Tarique Rahman returning to Bangladesh: Home adviser

MOST VIEWED

  • File photo of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Photo: Collected
    Joy spends Eid with Hasina in India: Indian media
  • Infofgraphics: TBS
    DGHS issues 11-point directive to prevent spread of Covid-19 in Bangladesh
  • Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    UK crime agency now freezes assets of ex-land minister Saifuzzaman: AJ
  • File photo of BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    Khasru flies to London ahead of Yunus-Tarique meeting
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus speaks at the Chatham House in London on 11 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    No desire to be part of next elected govt: CA Yunus
  • Illustration: Khandaker Abidur Rahman/TBS
    Three hospitals ‘held hostage’ as discharged July uprising injured keep occupying beds

Related News

  • 10 more Covid-19 cases reported in country
  • Expatriates' remittance helps Bangladesh make turnaround: CA
  • UAE tops 50c in highest May temperature on record
  • US accepts luxury jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One for Trump
  • Qatar dismisses concerns over offer of aircraft to Trump

Features

Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

18h | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

1d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

3d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

4d | Bangladesh

More Videos from TBS

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not respond to a request to meet with Dr. Muhammad Yunus

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not respond to a request to meet with Dr. Muhammad Yunus

40m | TBS World
My words have been misinterpreted: Shafiqul Alam

My words have been misinterpreted: Shafiqul Alam

1h | TBS Stories
What did the Chief Advisor do on the second day of his UK visit?

What did the Chief Advisor do on the second day of his UK visit?

2h | TBS Stories
Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

15h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net