DHAKA: Foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque on Saturday said with the help of Indian ships, Bangladesh foreign ministry evacuated a total of its 360 nationals from war-torn Yemen to Djibouti in two phases.

He further said among them, Indian Navy ship rescued 340 and the rest 20 Bangladeshis reached Djibouti by Air India flight.

Out of them, 11 were brought back to the country, he added.

Shahidul Haque was addressing a press briefing at the ministry in city in the afternoon.

He also said rest of the Bangladeshi citizens will be brought to Indian port city Kochi of Kerala state first and from there to Bangladesh.

Shahidul Haque also said so far 553 persons registered to return to Bangladesh.

Responding to a question, the foreign secretary said, “We have alternative methods to rescue our citizens though India has completed their rescue operation.”

“We have contacted various organizations that agreed on helping us,” he added.

BDST: 1830 HRS, APR 11, 2015
SR/RR/SMS