Expatriate Bangladeshis in Lebanon due to insecurity
Special Representative, Dhaka
Published: 02 October 2024, 08:41
https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/359990
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There are more than 100,000 expatriate Bangladeshis in Lebanon in the Middle East. Most of them are women. Expatriate Bangladeshis are suffering from insecurity as the country increases the scope of attacks by Israeli forces. In the meantime, thousands of Bangladeshis have taken refuge in Beirut after leaving southern Lebanon, most of whom want to return home by special flight.
More than 1,000 people have died in Lebanon in the last two weeks due to continued Israeli airstrikes. So far five Bangladeshis have been injured in these attacks. According to Bangladesh Embassy, three people were injured in South Lebanon and two in Beirut.
Due to security reasons, the activities of the Bangladesh Embassy there have been temporarily moved elsewhere due to the war situation caused by the Israeli attack in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. Foreign Adviser. Tauhid Hossain said in a press briefing in Dhaka on Tuesday that the diplomats of Bangladesh are continuing their activities in a small building elsewhere. Those who have work at the embassy are asked to contact there.
In the current situation, Bangladeshi expatriates are leaving the dangerous cities and settling in other cities. Many are living under the open sky. They are demanding a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines to return home. However, due to the ongoing war, the country has limited air connectivity.
The adviser said that the decision to evacuate Bangladeshi citizens from Lebanon has not yet been taken, and some preliminary talks have been held with the IOM (International Organization for Migration) in this regard. He said, the adviser said, the government is cautious about the citizens of Bangladesh in the situation in Lebanon. If necessary, there are preparations to open shelters for them, provide necessary assistance including food. Financial allocation has been requested from the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare for this purpose.
2 thousand Bangladeshis are being moved to a safe place in Lebanon2 thousand Bangladeshis are being moved to a safe place in Lebanon
According to the data of Manpower, Employment and Training Bureau, 267,364 Bangladeshis have gone to Lebanon legally so far. Bangladeshi workers started going to the country at a higher rate since 2009. However, most workers went in 2011. That year, 191,169 Bangladeshis went to Lebanon with BMET permits. However, in recent years, the country's economic downturn has reduced the export of workers. Last year (2023) 2 thousand 594 people went to Lebanon on worker visa. And 4 thousand 225 people went in the first 7 months of this year. Earlier in 2022, 858 people, 235 people in 2021 and 488 people in 2020 went to the country.
