Lankans in Bangladesh appeal to Govt. to evacuate them urgently

Sunday, 12 April 2020 19:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lankans in Bangladesh are appealing to the Government to arrange special flights for them to return home, as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly in the densely populated country.

Most of the Sri Lankans who work professional, middle, clerical level jobs and students say they will pay for their air travel, and quarantine themselves upon arrival, as per government regulations.

“We are Sri Lankans stuck in Bangladesh and the virus has started to spread here. Bangladesh has the world’s highest population density and there are poor medical facilities with only 3000 ventilators in the country,” a Sri Lankan living in Bangladesh told the Daily FT via email. They fear that as the virus may spread, there would be a shortage in essential goods followed by public unrest.

Sri Lankans say they have been earning valuable foreign exchange for the country and are now in need of assistance. They emphasised that the Government must prioritise which of its nationals may return to the county as travel restrictions are eased, and those in Bangladesh face heightened danger of contracting the diseases and should be considered urgently. According to statistics released by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), around 500 Sri Lankans leave for Bangladesh annually for employment. It is estimated that over 2,000 Sri Lankans work in Bangladesh where Sri Lankan firms have invested the most within the South Asian region.