Filipinos in Bangladesh are safe – DMW

Bangladeshi soldiers inspect commuters along a street amid the anti-quota protests, in Dhaka on July 20, 2024. Soldiers were patrolling Bangladeshi cities on July 20 to quell growing civil unrest sparked by student demonstrations, with riot police firing on protesters who defied a government curfew. (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines —  Filipinos in Bangladesh are safe, amid the civil unrest in the said nation, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) assured on Saturday.

“Ang mga OFW in Bangladesh are mostly skilled workers, technical. And some of them in the hotel sector, hospitality sector. They are safe and sound at this stage and we hope it’s safe that way,” said DMW chief Hans Cacdac in the Saturday News Forum. 

(Most of the OFWs in Bangladesh are skilled workers, technical workers. And some of them are in the hotel sector, hospitality sector. They are safe and sound at this stage and we hope it’s safe that way.)

“So far, safe and sound ang around 700 Filipinos in Bangladesh.”

(So far, the 700 Filipinos in Bangladesh are safe and sound.)

 The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) placed Bangladesh under Alert Level 1, or the precautionary phase on Friday due to the ongoing political demonstrations and civil unrest.

   The DFA also advised the Filipinos currently in Bangladesh to do the following:

• Exercise precaution and restrict non-essential movement
• Remain vigilant, monitor and follow guidelines set by local authorities.
• Always be in possession of valid passports and residence visas.
• If they have not done so, register their particulars with the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka.

Cacdac explained that while there is no migrant workers office for Filipinos in Bangladesh, there is an embassy. 

According to the Cacdac, no Filipino migrant worker had plans yet to return to the Philippines.