Staff Reporter :
A fresh batch of 151 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, returned to Bangladesh early Wednesday morning from war-torn Lebanon, as Israeli airstrikes continue to wreak havoc in the region.
The evacuation was part of the ongoing efforts to safeguard the lives of Bangladeshi expatriates caught in the escalating conflict.
The returnees boarded a chartered flight, Sky Vision Airlines’ SVI-5002, which arrived in Dhaka at 1:00 AM. This group was the highest in number so far.
This repatriation operation was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Government of Bangladesh has been working tirelessly to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon as the region remains embroiled in conflict.
Just the night before, on November 5, another 32 Bangladeshis were repatriated on flight EK 584, also funded by the Bangladesh government.
This brings the total number of repatriated nationals to 521, with nine flights having successfully transported Bangladeshis back to safety.
At Dhaka Airport, the returnees were warmly received by Mohammad Ruhul Amin, Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Syed Masud Mahmud Khondkar, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Each of the returnees received a pocket allowance of 5,000 Taka, food supplies, and access to basic medical services, arranged by IOM.
The officials took the opportunity to speak with the repatriated Bangladeshis, listening to their harrowing accounts of life under attack in Lebanon.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one Bangladeshi national has tragically lost his life in a recent bombing on last Saturday.
In response to the ongoing violence and the growing number of expatriates wishing to return, the Bangladesh government has pledged to repatriate all nationals who wish to come back to Bangladesh, at no cost to the individuals.