Against the backdrop of the Iran-Israel conflict, Bangladesh has taken an initiative to shift Bangladeshis, including its mission officials, to a safer location soon from Tehran, considering the situation on the ground in the Iranian capital.
"At this moment, there is no way to leave Iran [by air]. We have given them (Bangladeshis) instructions to move to a safer place," acting foreign secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique told reporters at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
He said the relocation process has already started with the funds available to the mission.
The acting foreign secretary said they are worried about 400 Bangladeshis in Tehran as they are at serious risk.
Siddique, however, said that there is additional financial involvement in terms of evacuation and relocation and that there are certain difficulties in terms of sending financial support to Iran's internal systems.
That is why, the official said, evacuation and relocation are going to be delayed to some extent.
The Bangladesh ambassador to Iran has already moved to a relatively safe place leaving his residence, taking the safety issues into consideration, Siddique said.
Responding to a question, the acting foreign secretary said there are around 400 Bangladeshis in Tehran and 100 Bangladeshis have communicated with the government of Bangladesh.
Siddique said the government will bear the cost related to evacuation and housing in safer places and that they will explore whether they can be sent outside Iran through Pakistan or Turkey if anyone wants to leave by land route.
There are 40 staff members at the Bangladesh mission in Tehran.
"We are exploring all avenues," he said, adding that they are seeking support from friendly countries, including Iran.
The mission is in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard.
The chancery is not safe and there is sensitive infrastructure (the first nuclear research centre of Tehran University) located within one kilometre of it. Attempts were made to destroy it in the last few days.
One of the two communication (internet) hubs of Tehran is also very close to the chancery.
Officers and staffers of the embassy fear becoming collateral damage in any attack on those infrastructures.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi citizens living in Iran and their relatives in Bangladesh have been informed that the Bangladesh Embassy in Tehran and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka, have set up a hotline for emergency communication in the current situation.
All Bangladeshi citizens living in Iran and their relatives in Bangladesh can directly contact the following mobile phone numbers (including WhatsApp) of the Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in case of emergency:
Bangladesh Embassy, Tehran:
1. +989908577368
2. +989122065745
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka:
1. +8801712012847
