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A total of 338 migrants have returned from the Middle Eastern country amid the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel
Published : 04 Nov 2024, 01:47 PM
Another 70 Bangladeshis have been repatriated from Lebanon amid the country's ongoing conflict with Israel, raising the total number of returnees to 338.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning.
The repatriation process for those wanting to return from Lebanon is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The ministry noted that 338 Bangladeshis have now returned from Lebanon aboard seven flights.
The Gaza conflict that reignited in 2023 saw Hezbollah and Israel engage in mutual attacks, with Israel intensifying its offensive in Lebanon from mid-September.
Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy estimate that around 100,000 Bangladeshis are currently living in Lebanon. Earlier, the government announced that 1,800 Bangladeshis had registered to return home amid the conflict.
Amid the repatriation process, one Bangladeshi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Saturday. There have also been reports of injuries among Bangladeshis since the conflict started.
The statement added that officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, and IOM were present at the airport to welcome the returnees.
The IOM provided each returnee with Tk 5,000 in pocket money, some food supplies, and basic medical assistance.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that the government would cover all costs associated with repatriating Bangladeshi expatriates who wish to return due to the conflict in Lebanon.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon is working to ensure the safe return of those who want to come home and to ensure the safety of those who choose to remain.
