105 more Bangladeshi expatriates return home from Lebanon

Another 105 Bangladesh nationals have returned home from war-ravaged Lebanon on Thursday night, bringing the total number of returnees to 963.

An Emirates Airlines flight carrying 105 Bangladeshi landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday night, said a media release sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The release said all of them returned at the government’s expense. All the returnees received Tk 5,000 in cash, some food items and initial treatment.

Earlier, 65 Bangladeshi expatriates returned from Lebanon on Wednesday (December 4) night.

A total of 1,800 Bangladeshis expatriates registered to return from Lebanon, with repatriations being carried out in phases, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to facilitate the safe return of those affected by the ongoing conflict in Lebanon.

Among the 963 Bangladeshi nationals, 54 people returned on October 21; 96 people on October 23, 30 on October 28; 36 on October 29; 52 on October 31, 70 on November 3, 32 on November 5, 95 on November 12, 151 via an IOM-sponsored charter flight on November 5, and 6 individuals on an IOM flight on November 21.

As the Israeli offensive is continuing in Lebanon, the government has taken all measures to repatriate those who want to return home and ensure safety for those who want to stay in Lebanon.

So far, one Bangladeshi expatriate has been killed in Lebanon.