Middle East ministers call Khalilur to mourn deaths, assure safety of Bangladeshi expats

They describe Bangladeshi expatriates as their own residents in separate telephonic conversations

Foreign ministers from four Middle Eastern nations have reached out to Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to express condolences over the deaths of two Bangladeshi expatriates and assure the safety of the expat community amid the escalating regional conflict.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a media release on Monday that the top diplomats from Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar held separate telephonic conversations with Khalilur.

The calls were made by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Bahrain’s Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad bin Sultan Al Muraikhi .

During the discussions, the Gulf leaders noted that they consider Bangladeshi nationals their own residents, the media statement said.

Highlighting the deep-rooted brotherly ties, the ministers praised the expatriates as "hardworking, law-abiding, and responsible", acknowledging their significant contributions to the host nations' economies, according to the statement.

The ministers from Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE expressed deep grief and concern over the recent deaths of two Bangladeshi nationals and the injuries sustained by seven others amidst the ongoing conflict.

"The ministers described the recent unprovoked attacks in their countries as 'unacceptable' and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the protection of all civilians," the media statement said.

The Gulf representatives also conveyed their gratitude to the Bangladesh government for its solidarity during these difficult times.