The process faces complications due to limited commercial flight availability
Published : 05 Oct 2024, 01:03 AM
The government is working on plans to bring expatriate Bangladeshis back from Lebanon amidst ongoing Israeli attacks, but the details of the repatriation process remain unclear.
The repatriation efforts are hampered by a lack of commercial flights, with only Middle East Airlines operating from Beirut.
Anwar Hossain, the first secretary (labour) at the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, told bdnews24.com on Friday that the embassy is coordinating with the foreign ministry to facilitate the return of Bangladeshis wishing to come home.
“We have informed the foreign ministry of the overall situation and continue to do so daily. However, the specific details of how they will be repatriated are still under consideration by the ministry.”
In wartime, the International Organization for Migration, or IOM, is typically involved in rescuing expatriates.
Anwar mentioned that the foreign ministry and the Bangladesh embassy in Lebanon are maintaining ongoing communication with the organisation.
Nearly 100,000 Bangladeshi expatriates are estimated to be in Lebanon. Anwar mentioned that 2,500 individuals have been relocated from conflict zones in southern Lebanon and Beirut.
The exact number of Bangladeshis wishing to return has yet to be determined, and the embassy will initiate a registration process once the repatriation plan is finalised.
Anwar said the IOM is considering chartered flights and ferry options from Turkey as alternative means of transportation.
He mentioned that the IOM is considering the option of repatriating individuals by ship from Turkey, alongside the possibility of chartered flights.
So far, five Bangladeshi nationals have been reported injured due to the Israeli attacks, but they are now considered ‘out of danger’ following medical treatment.
The embassy has established shelters for several hundred Bangladeshis in need of assistance and has advised expatriates to contact the helpline for urgent support.