Fifty-four Bangladeshi expatriates are returning home in the first phase from Lebanon, which has been devastated by Israeli attacks. The Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut announced that these expatriates will depart for Jeddah by air around 11:00 pm on Sunday (local time) and are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on Monday evening.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain stated that the number of Bangladeshis in Lebanon is approximately 70,000 to 100,000. Among them, around 1,800 have registered to return home. Of those who registered, 167 have legal documents, while the remaining 1,623 are undocumented.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working to bring back 200 individuals on a chartered flight. For the others, the government is arranging flights, allowing approximately 50 people to return each day. It is anticipated that 58 more individuals will arrive in Dhaka during the second phase on October 22.
In light of the severe attacks by Israel, Bangladeshi expatriates in Lebanon are living in fear. Many have sought refuge in shelters or safe locations. The government is taking initiatives to bring them back, with the first phase involving the return of 54 Bangladeshi citizens.