Nearly 700 Bangladeshis have so far crossed into Poland from Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24, Bangladesh Ambassador in Warsaw Sultana Laila Hossain told Dhaka Tribune on Thursday evening.
There are very few Bangladeshis in war-torn Ukraine at the moment, she said.
Two Bangladeshis, who were trapped in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol for one to 12 days, have been able to leave for a safer place, she added.
“To the best of our knowledge, there are not many of our people in Ukraine. There are eight to 10 Bangladeshi families. They are living in that country for a long time. Now, they are making up their minds whether to leave Ukraine or stay,” Ambassador Hossain told this correspondent from Warsaw.
Besides, she said: “There are four to six Bangladeshis, who are trying to get to Ukraine-Poland border. Of them, two managed to leave Mariupol yesterday [Monday] and two are expected to be released from Ukrainian prison today [Thursday]. Earlier, few Bangladeshis arrived in Poland after getting released from jail.”
The Bangladesh Embassy in Poland looks after the affairs with regard to Ukraine, as the country does not have a mission there.
To a question, Hossain said: “We do not have the exact figure. But, roughly 700 Bangladeshis have so far crossed into Poland from Ukraine.”
“Apart from Hadisur Rahman, a sailor, there is no report of casualties among Bangladeshis in Ukraine,” she added.
About some Bangladeshis stranded in Sumy, Ukraine, the envoy said: “There were eight to nine people trapped in that town. They were out of that town safely a long time back.”
About the immigration status of the Bangladeshis, who crossed into Poland, Hossain said: “They have been asked by the Polish authorities to regularize their immigration status. Hope that they have done so.”
Of course, she added: “May Bangladeshis have already left Poland for other European countries. The majority of them are young people.”