Seventy additional Bangladeshis have returned from Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict in Israel

Another 70 Bangladeshis have been repatriated from Lebanon amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, bringing the total number of returnees to 338.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning.

The repatriation process for those wishing to return from Lebanon is being coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, the Bangladesh Embassy in Beirut, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The ministry reported that the 338 returnees have arrived on seven separate flights. The renewed conflict in Gaza, which began in 2023, has led to increased hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, with Israel intensifying its military actions in Lebanon since mid-September. Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy estimate that approximately 100,000 Bangladeshis currently reside in Lebanon. Earlier, the government disclosed that 1,800 Bangladeshis had registered to return home amid the escalating conflict.

During the repatriation efforts, one Bangladeshi was tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Saturday, and there have also been reports of injuries among Bangladeshis since the conflict began.

The statement indicated that officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, and IOM were present at the airport to welcome the returnees. The IOM provided each returnee with Tk 5,000 in pocket money, along with some food supplies and basic medical assistance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that the government will cover all costs related to the repatriation of Bangladeshi expatriates wishing to return due to the conflict in Lebanon.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon is actively working to facilitate the safe return of those who want to come home and to ensure the safety of those who choose to stay.