Evacuation of BD people in Libya demanded
Kamrun Nahar | Saturday, 26 February 2011
Kamrun Nahar
Probashi Manob Kallyan Foundation, an organisation for expatriates' welfare, demanded immediate evacuation of stranded Bangladeshis in trouble-torn Libya. The foundation also condemned the present roles of the foreign and expatriates' welfare ministries and the embassies in evacuating 0.1 million (one lakh) Bangladeshi nationals from the African country. According to the Expatriates' Welfare Ministry there are 60,000 Bangladeshis working in Libya. "No official either from foreign or expatriates' welfare ministry took any initiative to rescue our expats in Libya. We are worried about their safety as we have noticed our government's failure in evacuating our people who got stranded in Iran, Iraq and Kuwait during the Gulf wars," Dr Abdur Rahman, chairman of the foundation, told the FE Friday. He said other SAARC countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are evacuating their citizens from that country by sending representatives in Egypt and Tunisia, the two bordering countries of Libya. "Our people who are fleeing Libya to the bordering countries do not have passports with them. Our representatives should go to Tunisia and Egypt and negotiate with those governments and other international humanitarian organisations for their safe return," he added. Media reports say Bangladeshi workers have been facing tremendous problem due to the crisis in Libya. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni however told the media Thursday that Dhaka had not yet received any report of death of 37 Bangladeshi nationals in Libya which was reported by an international media. Mr Rahman also denied having got any such news. "The government must contact the relatives of our people staying and working in Libya as no one can say much about them except for their near and dear ones. The officials should check their list," he said. He also demanded of the government to send either foreign or expatriates' welfare ministry official or at least standing committee chairmen on those ministries to Egypt and Tunisia to receive the fleeing Bangladeshi nationals. He said, "We all admit the expatriates' contribution to our economy but are too callous about their safety and protection. If the government does not take any immediate step how can we save our people?" Regarding the government's response he said they were going to have a meeting with expatriates' welfare minister today (Saturday).
Probashi Manob Kallyan Foundation, an organisation for expatriates' welfare, demanded immediate evacuation of stranded Bangladeshis in trouble-torn Libya. The foundation also condemned the present roles of the foreign and expatriates' welfare ministries and the embassies in evacuating 0.1 million (one lakh) Bangladeshi nationals from the African country. According to the Expatriates' Welfare Ministry there are 60,000 Bangladeshis working in Libya. "No official either from foreign or expatriates' welfare ministry took any initiative to rescue our expats in Libya. We are worried about their safety as we have noticed our government's failure in evacuating our people who got stranded in Iran, Iraq and Kuwait during the Gulf wars," Dr Abdur Rahman, chairman of the foundation, told the FE Friday. He said other SAARC countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka are evacuating their citizens from that country by sending representatives in Egypt and Tunisia, the two bordering countries of Libya. "Our people who are fleeing Libya to the bordering countries do not have passports with them. Our representatives should go to Tunisia and Egypt and negotiate with those governments and other international humanitarian organisations for their safe return," he added. Media reports say Bangladeshi workers have been facing tremendous problem due to the crisis in Libya. Foreign Minister Dipu Moni however told the media Thursday that Dhaka had not yet received any report of death of 37 Bangladeshi nationals in Libya which was reported by an international media. Mr Rahman also denied having got any such news. "The government must contact the relatives of our people staying and working in Libya as no one can say much about them except for their near and dear ones. The officials should check their list," he said. He also demanded of the government to send either foreign or expatriates' welfare ministry official or at least standing committee chairmen on those ministries to Egypt and Tunisia to receive the fleeing Bangladeshi nationals. He said, "We all admit the expatriates' contribution to our economy but are too callous about their safety and protection. If the government does not take any immediate step how can we save our people?" Regarding the government's response he said they were going to have a meeting with expatriates' welfare minister today (Saturday).