Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said he had conveyed the European envoys in Bangladesh that there are alternatives to travel in and out from the country. “We have to take few decisions for our citizens like other countries in Europe. Still we kept open four routes for essential travelling,” he told Bangladesh Post.
The question came as the European envoys in Bangladesh formally wrote a letter to the foreign ministry and wanted to know the ways to leave after Dhaka cut air links with all countries except four – London, Hong Kong, China and Thailand.
The foreign minister said he was surprised to see their letter.
“Europe is in lockdown. Did we ask them why you did it? India also stopped movement. Did they (EU) ask them (India) why you did it? We (Bangladesh) did it considering the public health situation of our people,” he said.
“Still people can easily move through Thailand, Hong Kong, China and London,” he said, referring to the government’s decision.
The government earlier decided to cut air links with all countries except those four countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Bangladesh confirmed the presence of the virus in 24 people. Of them two died.
The government also closed all schools across Bangladesh and asked people to stay at home if it is not urgent.