Have patience, won't put anyone abroad in unbearable sufferings: Shahriar

The government has urged Bangladesh citizens stuck in India to have patience, assuring them of their gradual repatriation after bringing back patients from South India. 

"We won't put any of our citizens abroad in unbearable sufferings," State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said in a video message on Saturday night. 

He urged all, including Bangladeshi students in India, not to create any untoward situation there noting that the image of Bangladesh is linked to their behaviour.

The State Minister said people in all coronavirus affected countries including Bangladesh and India are facing problems but it will be considered as their contribution in a positive way if they have patience.

"We're always keeping track of your wellbeing," he said assuring the students, especially those 300 students from Lovely Professional University in Punjab that the Bangladesh and the High Commission are beside them.

The State Minister said Bangladesh High Commissioner in India is in constant contact with the university authorities and ensured everything necessary for the students. 

He said the flights of private airlines will be operated in next seven to ten days and then they will try to operate flights of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and other airlines upon permission from the Indian government. 

US-Bangla Airlines will operate special flights to bring back Bangladesh nationals who got stranded in Chennai and Kolkata due to countrywide lockdown in India amid coronavirus outbreak.

Kamrul Islam, General Manager (Public Relations) of the US-Bangla Airlines, told UNB that they will operate six special flights on Chennai-Dhaka route from April 20-25.

Two more special flights will bring back the Bangladeshis from Kolkata to Dhaka on April 21 and April 23, he added.

Shahriar said the government will take initiative to bring back Bangladeshis from other Indian cities including Punjab and Delhi after bringing back patients who went to India for treatment. 

Some 2,500 Bangladeshi nationals, including over 1,000 students, got stuck in different Indian cities due to lockdown, according to the Foreign Ministry.

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said the government will bring back Bangladeshis who got stuck in various countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"On the basis of need, we'll bring them back home. We're bringing them back from where we are getting scope," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after an inter-ministerial meeting.

Dr Momen mentioned that it remains difficult to bring back Bangladeshis from India due to the ongoing lockdown there.

The government has already brought back a good number of Bangladeshis from Kolkata by road with special permission. The returnees followed quarantine. 

There are broadly three categories of Bangladesh nationals currently in India - who are willing to stay back until the situation improves but facing a cash crunch, students and those who have been released from hospitals after necessary treatment.