Bangladeshi who went to Lebanon to help Palestinians, is returning home after 28 years

A Bangladeshi, who first left the country in 1980s to help the Palestinians in the war against Israel, is coming back home after 28 years from Lebanon.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Beirut Abdul Motaleb Sarker told bdnews24.com they have issued travel document to Abu Sama for return to his home town Moulvibazar after verification. The embassy has also bought an air ticket for him.

“Today he came to the embassy to take the ticket. He’ll leave Lebanon on Sunday afternoon,” he said on Friday.

Sama was first spotted last month when the ambassador took an initiative to give Bangladeshis opportunity to come back to the country through a "special system".

The second and third phase of that initiative will be held in November and December again.

Ambassador Motaleb Sarker said Sama first left the country in the 80s for the Palestine war and went back after six or seven years. He again went to the Middle Eastern country bordering the Mediterranean and did not return.

In a Facebook post, the ambassador wrote he wanted to know his feelings. “He was just looking at me…could not say anything”.

He has eight children including five daughters. “He said he knows some of them. All of his children are married. He said he is two years short of 70."