By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
Bangladesh has requested the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to help in repatriating Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Yemen, foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque said yesterday.
He also said Bangladesh had requested India also to help in repatriating Bangladeshis from the troubled Gulf
country.
India agreed in principle to help Bangladesh depending on availability of space in ship as India is sending a ship to
rescue Indians, he added.
He also said that Bangladesh had sought support from Saudi Arabia to rescue Bangladesh nationals.
More than 1,500 Bangladesh nationals are living in Yemen and all of them are not willing to come back, Haque said.
Earlier, Bangladesh issued a statement supporting Saudi-led efforts in Yemen.
The foreign secretary said Bangladesh has taken a pragmatic and realistic position which has been largely appreciated by all including Saudi Arabia.
A couple of days back, two Bangladeshi engineers sought help from the government to rescue them from Yemen.
The foreign secretary said they are in touch with Bangladeshis there. Bangladesh does not have an embassy in Yemen.
Meanwhile, the ministry of foreign affairs has opened a ‘helpline’ so that Bangladeshi nationals living in Yemen can stay in touch with the officials concerned.
