SCORES of Bangladeshis who were released from prison following a Royal pardon last month are set to be repatriated, revealed a top diplomat, writes the GDN's Sandeep Singh Grewal.

They have been tested and found to be free of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), according to Bangladesh Labour Counsellor Shaikh Islam.

He added that the 347 former inmates were part of the 901 individuals freed from prison on humanitarian grounds following the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.

“There are a total of 347 Bangladeshis who will be flying out of Bahrain in the coming days,” Mr Islam told the GDN yesterday.

“These are individuals who had been jailed for different offences, including drugs.

“They all have received documents stating they are free of Covid-19.”

The embassy official said that Dhaka had stepped up measures to fly back its nationals in the Middle East, including the Gulf.

“We have completed all the formalities and are now waiting to send the former inmates on separate chartered flights to Dhaka.

“Upon arrival there, they will be screened at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and would be subjected to quarantine.”

Mr Islam said there were 97 Bangladeshis currently receiving treatment for the coronavirus after being found to be infected.

He said the embassy continued to distribute food to its nationals adversely affected due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Bangladeshis, who account for the second largest expatriate community in Bahrain, can contact the embassy hotline on 33375155 for assistance.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Ambassador Pradeepa Saram, in an exclusive interview with the GDN, spoke about a wide range of measures being taken to protect Sri Lankans in Bahrain.

Ms Saram, third from left, during a food aid campaign

“We continue to organise food aid drives to support our nationals affected by the economic impact of Covid-19,” she said.

“The embassy has received a one-time financial aid from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment to be used for the welfare of our nationals in Bahrain.”

The diplomat said embassy officials have personally spoken to landlords to delay the rents for Sri Lankans and even had discussions with employers, especially in the hospitality sector.

“We have spoken with human resource managers to resolve the issue especially related to pending wages, and even assist those who have no work and cannot leave the country during this period.”

She said there are about 10,000 Sri Lankans working in Bahrain with a good number employed as domestic workers in households.

“The embassy strongly advises our community members to remain in the places where they are currently staying safely until Sri Lanka becomes normal and contains the virus.

“Bahrain is providing the best healthcare to all Covid-19 patients and we are grateful for their support to all nationalities.”

The embassy has also launched a Covid-19 hotline (35106626) to assist distressed Sri Lankans.

Sources told the GDN that other embassies were also working on completing formalities to arrange chartered flights for former inmates released under the Royal pardon last month.