War in Lebanon: 82 Bangladeshi expatriates return home

A total of 82 Bangladeshi expatriates have returned home from war-ravaged Lebanon in an Emirates Airlines flight.

The flight, EK-584, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:00pm on Thursday, said a media release sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The repatriation was made with the help of the ministries of foreign affairs, expatriate welfare and overseas employment, Bangladesh embassy in Lebanon's Beirut, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Among the returnees, 76 expatriates were repatriated at government expenses, while six others were funded by the IOM.

As of yesterday, a total of 697 Bangladeshis returned from Lebanon through 11 flights since the conflict started there.

The returnees were welcomed at the airport upon their arrival. Mostofa Jamil Khan, director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exchanged greetings with the returnees and inquired about their well-being.

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.