Indonesia to repatriate body of Indonesian from Bangladesh next week

Jakarta, Aug 9 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that the body of an Indonesian killed in a fire on August 5 amid anti-government demonstrations in Bangladesh can be repatriated to Indonesia as early as next week.

The ministry's Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities, Judha Nugraha, explained that his side and the Indonesian Embassy in Dhaka continue to strive to ensure the smooth repatriation of the body of the Indonesian with the initials DU, who was 50 years old.

"If possible, we will repatriate the body as soon as possible, on Monday or Tuesday next week," Nugraha noted in a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

He said that the process of repatriating the body is currently still being held up by the obligation to complete the administration process with the police, who are currently still focusing on restoring public security.

The repatriation of the body is also hampered by the fact that the operation of the hospital, where the deceased was evacuated, had not yet recovered due to the riots.

Meanwhile, Nugraha stated that the Indonesian Embassy in Dhaka ensured that the situation in Bangladesh was gradually improving, especially after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5—the main demand of the protesters— and fled from Bangladesh.

Nugraha said that apart from the Indonesian who died in the incident in the city of Jashore, all Indonesians registered as residing in Bangladesh were reported to be in good condition and safe.

However, the embassy continues to urge Indonesians who are still in Bangladesh to remain vigilant about their personal safety and avoid crowds in public places.

Nugraha remarked that the embassy is also preparing a safe house that Indonesians can go to when the situation worsens or if the need arises.

It was reported that an Indonesian died after being trapped in the hotel he was staying in the city of Jashore, northwest Bangladesh, on Monday (August 5).

"DU died from inhaling too much smoke because the hotel where he was staying caught fire in the midst of the riots," according to a statement from the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday (August 6).