India is in discussions with Bangladesh to ensure the safe and secure repatriation of occupants of the stranded boat which sailed from Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on 11th of this month. In a reply to a media query, External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Anurag Srivastava said, the boat carried 64 women including eight young girls and 26 men including five young boys. The engine of the boat failed on 15th of February and since then it has been drifting. Due to the severe conditions, eight occupants have died and one of the occupants has been missing since then.
Mr Srivastava said that upon learning of the boat in distress, India immediately dispatched two Coast Guard ships to provide food, water and medical assistance to the occupants of the boat. Seven of them were administered IV fluids. Around 47 of the occupants of the boat are in possession of ID cards issued to them by UNHCR office in Bangladesh stating that they are displaced Myanmar nationals and person of concern to UNHCR registered by Bangladesh Government.
On recent workshop on COVID management with 10 neighbouring countries, the Spokesman said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a special visa scheme for doctors and nurses and a regional Air Ambulance agreement for medical contingencies, among other things. He said, these proposals were very well-received by the participating countries and follow-up action is being taken in consultation with concerned ministries.
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