Return of remaining Bangladeshis depends on China: Momen

The government is looking to see what it can do for the 171 Bangladesh citizens who have registered to return home from Hubei province of China amid coronavirus outbreak there, reports UNB.

After the government asked to see who would be willing to pay for their return, the number who registered came down to 30.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen came up with the information while talking to newsmen at the ministry of foreign affairs on Sunday.

He, however, did not give any date of their return as it depends on China.

Earlier, he had a meeting with Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming.

Momen said China has been very helpful to Bangladesh throughout the process and recalled Chinese government’s support in bringing back 312 Bangladesh nationals from Wuhan city, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

He said the Bangladeshis returned home after 14 days of quarantine.

"We have a list of 171. We are now thinking how we can arrange to bring them back who are willing to come. We don’t know when. It doesn’t depend on us. It depends on China's permission. There’s complete shutdown (Hubei province)."