Flight embargo withdrawn for Bangladeshis with valid Italian stay permits: FM
The Italian Ambassador to Dhaka said they would try to complete the police checking expeditiously
The restrictions on flights to Italy for Bangladeshi expatriates with legal stay permits has been withdrawn.
"At our request, the flight embargo has been withdrawn for Bangladeshis with valid Italian stay permits," said foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
"Those whose permits have expired have to apply for the visa. Italian police will issue visas after checking their background," Momen told to the media on Thursday.
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The Italian Ambassador to Dhaka said that they would try to complete the police checking expeditiously. However, this withdrawal of flight embargo is only for those with valid stay permits. Italy will not issue new visas," he added.
Bangladeshi expatriates in Italy, who came to Bangladesh on holiday but whose visas expired after being stranded here for eight to 10 months, held a sit-in last Sunday in front of the Italian embassy in Dhaka.
They demanded automatic extension of their visas, resumption of flights, their return to work, and help from the government of Bangladesh. They also met the Italian ambassador to Bangladesh and presented the demands to him.
The ambassador had assured them of automatic renewal of visas.
Bangladesh suspended international flights in March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, but many expatriates returned to Italy on several chartered flights with the help of the Bangladesh embassy in Italy.
Italy earlier announced the cancellation of all flights with Bangladesh and on June 8, the European country deported 168 Bangladeshis on two flights.
