Eighty-five Bangladeshis have returned from war-stricken Lebanon at government expense.
They arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday morning aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET-0680.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this marks the latest batch of returnees under the government’s repatriation effort.
So far 1,048 Bangladeshis have been brought back to the country on 16 flights. The government has been covering the costs of their return.
Upon arrival, the returnees were warmly welcomed by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM provided each returnee with Tk5,000 in pocket money, food supplies and access to basic medical care.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the returnees, discussing the horrors of the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and ensuring their safety and well-being.
The government confirmed that one Bangladeshi national has lost his life in a bombing incident in Lebanon.
In light of the ongoing instability, the government has committed to repatriating all Bangladeshis wishing to return, covering all expenses.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut is facilitating the safe return of those willing to come back, while ensuring the safety of those who wish to remain in Lebanon.
