No comprehensive info on expatriate Bangladeshi deaths: FM
The Bangladesh government has no comprehensive information about the number of deaths of Bangladeshi citizens abroad and citizens of Bangladeshi origin in different countries from coronavirus (COVID-19).
Several hundred Bangladeshis abroad were feared infected with the disease and many of them preferred to maintain secrecy to avoid humiliations in their respective communities, diplomats in different Bangladesh missions abroad said.
‘We do not have any comprehensive information about the number of deaths of Bangladeshi expatriates abroad,’ foreign minister AK Abdul Momen told New Age on Saturday.
Foreign ministry additional secretary Khalilur Rahman told New Age that two Bangladesh citizens died of COVID-19 abroad so far.
A Bangladesh citizen died in Milan and another died in Gambia, diplomatic sources said without disclosing the identities of the deceased.
At least 10 US nationals of Bangladeshi origin died and about 100 infected with COVID-19 in New York and adjacent areas, diplomatic sources said.
Bangladesh consul general in New York Sadia Faizunnesa said on Saturday that they were in touch with the hospital authorities to know the whereabouts of the US nationals of Bangladeshi origin.
‘But the hospitals do not provide information on the deceased and the infected people,’ she said adding that the consulate general ‘is maintaining communications with the community through hotlines.’
At least five British nationals of Bangladeshi origin and an Italian of Bangladeshi origin died of COVID-19 in the UK, a Bangladesh diplomat in the UK said.
The British government does not disclose ethnicity of the deceased and the infected people, said the official.
Another Bangladeshi-Italian died in Italy, a diplomat said, adding that most of the people do not want to disclose that they were infected with coronavirus to avoid any unpleasant situation.
Scores of Bangladeshi citizens were suspected to have infecting coronavirus in Spain, according to a diplomatic source. (Source: New Age)
