12 Bangladeshis killed in Middle East conflict

Twelve Bangladeshi nationals have been killed amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, while 186 Bangladeshis have so far been repatriated from Iran, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury told Parliament on Thursday.

Responding during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the minister said the returnees included 12 women and eight children. Their repatriation was financed by the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board.

Giving details of the deaths, Ariful said five Bangladeshis were killed in Lebanon, three in Saudi Arabia, two in the United Arab Emirates, one in Iraq and one in Bahrain.

Of the 12 victims, one was buried in the country where the person died, while the bodies of nine others have been brought back to Bangladesh, he said.

The government has provided Tk 35,000 to each bereaved family for burial-related expenses from the airport, along with a special grant of Tk 50,000 for each family, the minister added.

He said the government continues to support the return of expatriate workers affected by wars, conflicts and natural disasters in different countries.

The minister also highlighted several measures taken for migrant workers at airports. He said two freezer ambulances have been added at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, while another ambulance has been deployed at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.

Two more ambulances are already operating at Dhaka airport, he added.

Ariful said steps are underway to procure 200 luggage trolleys for expatriate passengers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Ten wheelchairs have also been provided to assist injured and sick migrant workers while boarding and leaving aircraft.

The government is also working to establish an expatriate lounge at Osmani International Airport, introduce hygienic meals at a 30 percent discount for migrant workers and set up a first-aid medical corner there, the minister said.