A fourth group of 30 Bangladeshi expatriates, who have opted to return home amid the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, is set to depart from Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport today.

According to a press release from the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, their flight, with a stopover in Jeddah, is scheduled to arrive at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:40 a.m. on October 29.

The embassy also reported that it has made necessary arrangements to facilitate the return of applicants holding valid passports, residence permits, and essential travel documents, ensuring a smooth journey back to Bangladesh under embassy supervision.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut issued a notification encouraging interested citizens to register for repatriation.

So far, a total of 150 Bangladeshi expatriates have returned home in three groups. With the fourth group of 30 individuals, this number will reach 180.

The first group of 54 Bangladeshis returned to Dhaka on October 21.

In the second phase, 65 expatriates, including two infants, arrived on October 23 at 5:34 p.m., following a layover in Jeddah on a commercial Saudi Arabian flight (SV810).

The third group of 31 returned via a Saudi commercial flight (SV802) from Beirut, arriving in Dhaka at around 1 a.m. on Thursday night.

The repatriation efforts are being coordinated in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to ensure the safe return of Bangladeshis affected by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

IOM, with support from the European Union, is working with the Bangladesh government to facilitate their safe return, including immediate medical assistance upon arrival.

It is estimated that between 70,000 and 100,000 Bangladeshi nationals currently reside in Lebanon, with around 1,800 having expressed a desire to return home.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely collaborating with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment to facilitate the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Lebanon.

BDST: 1006 HRS, OCT 27, 2024
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