UNCC Releases Compensation for Affected Bangladeshis in Iraq-Kuwait War

The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), based in Geneva, has decided to release 11,803, 031.26 U.S. dollars as payment of compensation to Bangladeshi claimants of Iraq-Kuwait war in categories A, B, E and F under phase two and phase three payments, a press release of the Labor Ministry said Sunday in Dhaka.

UNCC since last October had suspended all payments in these categories on the ground that a very small number of the claims could not be reconciled, the release said.

The issue was taken up very firmly with UNCC by the Bangladesh Mission in Geneva. It was due to the persistent efforts of the mission that the impasse could be resolved and the funds released for payment.

The Bangladesh initiative, which has led to the withdrawal of the suspension, will also benefit claimants from many other countries whose compensation payments have so long remained suspended, the release added.

Meanwhile a four-member high-powered UNCC delegation led by Mr. Cecil Ec, UNCC director, Sunday called on Labor and Employment Minister M.A. Mannan and held discussion on compensation of Bangladesh nationals affected by Iraq- Kuwait War.

During the meeting, the minister requested the UNCC delegation to speed up the process of sending the compensation money to Bangladesh.

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