List of Bangladeshi expats dying of Covid-19 growing

Bangladeshi expatriates have accounted for nearly one-third of all novel coronavirus deaths in Saudi Arabia. 

As of Saturday, the Gulf country – which is known as the largest destination for Bangladeshi migrant workers – has reported 676 deaths from the pandemic, and 220 of them are of Bangladeshis. 

Not only in Saudi Arabia, the list of Bangladeshi expatriates who have died of Covid-19 in different countries is growing longer every day. 

While Bangladesh has recorded 888 deaths from Covid-19 as of Sunday, media reports and the Brac Migration Programme said the virus has claimed the lives of at least 843 Bangladesh expatriates in different countries across the world till Friday. 

Khalilur Rahman, head of the novel coronavirus cell at the foreign ministry, said, "We have some unofficial estimates of the numbers of deceased migrant Bangladeshis from our foreign missions. But, I cannot tell you the unofficial number."

The US tops the list with 266 deaths of Bangladesh migrants from the novel coronavirus as of Thursday, followed by the UK where at least 220 Bangladeshis have succumbed to the virus. 

However, there was no confirmed information about how many Bangladeshis have contracted Covid-19 in the US and UK. 

Ashequn Nabi Chowdhury, press minister at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, said, "There is no specific information about the death of Bangladeshis in the UK. Officially, the number of Bangladeshis who have died from Covid-19 is around 106." 

He said the figure is more than 200 according to the local community and media reports. 

Noman Taher, a Bangladeshi migrant living in South Carolina of the US, said, "The living accommodation of Bangladeshi migrants in the US is not very congested like in Singapore and different Middle Eastern countries. But, people tend to lead a social life here." 

However, the number of infections and deaths is on an increasing trend in the Middle Eastern countries – especially in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. 

Additionally, a large number of Bangladeshi migrant workers have tested positive for Covid-19 in Singapore. 

The congested shared accommodation and lack of awareness are the main reasons behind the massive numbers of novel coronavirus cases among Bangladeshis in those countries.

Migrant workers said maintaining a physical distance is not possible in such living conditions. 

In Saudi Arabia, the number of Bangladeshi expatriates who have tested positive for Covid-19 has crossed 13,000, according to the Bangladesh's embassy in Riyadh. 

"Some 13,700 Bangladeshis have been infected in Saudi Arabia. Although the number is large, we have to keep in mind that around 22 lakh Bangladeshis live in the country," Golam Moshi, Bangladesh ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told The Business Standard.  

"The official death toll is 95, but unofficially it is more than 200," he added. 

He said Bangladeshis are careless about the novel coronavirus, which is a key reason behind such a large number of infections. 

"Most Bangladeshis live in shared accommodation here. This is the main reason for infections," said Adar Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi worker in Riyadh. 

Around 46 Bangladeshis have died from novel coronavirus in the UAE. 

Edris Riad, a Bangladeshi migrant who tested positive for novel coronavirus in Abu Dhabi recently, said, "We are six people living in a room that could be congenial for four people. The rent for our room is 3,900 dirhams – which is equivalent to around Tk 90,000." 

"As the house rent is very high, migrant Bangladeshis opt for shared accommodations here. In many cases, more than 15 people share a room similar to ours," he added. 

According to a media report, the Qatar authorities have, meanwhile, issued a directive, saying not more than four people can live in a room.

Although only one death has been reported, a large number of Bangladeshis have contracted Covid-19 in Singapore – where around 1.5 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates work, according to an unofficial estimate.

The number of infected Bangladeshis has crossed 18,000, while the total Covid-19 cases are 37,183 in the country till Friday, according to the health ministry of Singapore. 

Md Rihan, a Bangladeshi worker in Singapore who contracted Covid-19, said over the phone on Saturday, "I tested positive for the novel coronavirus on May 15. Then the authorities shifted me from my dormitory to Changi Exhibition Centre, which is used as an isolation centre for Covid-19 patients. Around 5,000 patients are staying here now." 

Describing the situation of his dormitory in Woodlands of Singapore, Rihan, said, "We live in a row of bunk beds in a room with 18 people. We sleep just a metre apart from each other. There are four rooms on our floor where we share toilets, showers, etc."

He said his seven roommates were found to be positive for the novel coronavirus. 

Meanwhile, around 1,018 Bangladeshis have contracted Covid-19 in the Maldives, where the total virus cases are 1,883 as of Friday, according to the Bangladesh High Commission in Male. 
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BANGLADESHI CASUALTIES PER COUNTRY