1,800 expats in Lebanon enrolled to return to Bangladesh, first flight on Sunday: Foreign adviser

The government will bring back Bangladeshis from Lebanon who want to return voluntarily, Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain said today (17 October). 

"There are 70,000 to 1 lakh Bangladeshis in Lebanon and around 1,800 got enrolled to return to Bangladesh," he said while briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said, "Of the 1,800 Bangladeshis registered to return, only 167 have the necessary legal documents. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is planning to repatriate 200 individuals on chartered flights. 

"The government is also arranging regular flights, with a capacity of approximately 50 people per day. The first flight is expected to arrive in Dhaka on 20 October with 53 passengers, followed by another on 22 October with 58. 

The adviser noted that due to limited flight capacity from Beirut, it is uncertain if all registered individuals can be repatriated by air. 

"As a contingency plan, the government is considering transporting people by sea to the Turkish port of Mersin, followed by a connecting flight to Dhaka. While this option is more costly, it is being explored as a safety measure," he added.

He mentioned that some Bangladeshis, despite being aware of the risks, are not willing to return as they are concerned about finding sources of income after coming back.

The adviser said the government is exploring both air and sea routes to ensure the safe return of Bangladeshis, who got stuck in troubled Lebanon. 

Mentioning that approximately 90% of the registered returnees have become irregular immigrants, he said, "This poses a greater challenge as they require clearance, which typically involves a penalty. The government is working to waive these penalties and is seeking assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to repatriate those who want to return at government expense."