At least 70 other stranded Bangladeshi expatriates from war-torn Lebanon arrived safely in Dhaka in the early hours on Monday on an Emirates Airlines flight (EK-584), fully funded by the Bangladeshi government.
To date, a total of 338 Bangladeshis have been repatriated from Lebanon in seven flights, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
The repatriation operation is a joint effort supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Upon arrival, officials from the foreign and expatriates’ welfare ministries, along with representatives from the IOM, welcomed the returnees at the airport.
Each returnee received Tk 5,000 in pocket money, along with basic food supplies and medical assistance, courtesy of the IOM.
The government has pledged to cover all repatriation expenses forBangladeshi nationals wishing to return from Lebanon amidst the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut continues to prioritise the safe return of all willing expatriates and is working diligently to ensure the safety of those who choose to remain.
On Sunday, a Bangladeshi expatriate was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon while commuting to work.
Mostafa Jamil Khan, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke with the returning Bangladeshis and discussed about their experiences and inquired about their well-being.
These evacuees are among around 1,800 Bangladeshi nationals who expressed their wish to voluntarily return due to the deteriorating security conditions in Lebanon.
