Bangladeshis in Lebanon advised to stay safe amid escalating conflict
The ambassador also urged everyone to refrain from spreading rumours and encouraged unity, patience, and courage in supporting those in need
The Bangladesh Embassy in Lebanon has urged Bangladeshi expatriates in the country to prioritise their safety amid the ongoing conflict.
"Given the current situation, please stay safe wherever you are. If you face any problem, inform us immediately, and we will do everything we can to assist you," Bangladesh Ambassador in Beirut Air Vice Marshal Javed Tanveer Khan said in a video message today (29 September).
He further stated that the mission has been actively working in various ways to prioritise the safety of human lives.
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The ambassador asked expatriates in need of safe shelter to contact the embassy's helpline and hotline immediately.
The embassy can be contacted via the hotline at 70635278 and the helpline at 81744207.
The ambassador noted that the situation in Lebanon has significantly worsened over the past four to five days, and that people in Beirut, as well as in southern and eastern Lebanon, have been experiencing an "extremely tumultuous" period.
He mentioned that the mission has been consistently updating higher authorities in Dhaka about the seriousness of the ongoing situation in Lebanon and the needs of distressed expatriates.
"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the expatriate brothers and sisters who are providing food and shelter to fellow distressed expatriates. Additionally, various social organisations within the expatriate community have stepped up to assist, and I extend my sincere thanks to them as well," he said in the video posted on the mission's Facebook page.
The ambassador also urged everyone to refrain from spreading rumours and encouraged unity, patience, and courage in supporting those in need.
The ambassador's message comes amid an escalation of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah over the past two weeks, marked by ongoing airstrikes that have resulted in hundreds of deaths in Lebanon and displaced nearly a million people.
Israel struck more targets in Lebanon today, pressing Hezbollah with new attacks after killing the Iran-backed group's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and a string of its other top commanders in the last two days.
Israel's intensifying bombardment has increased fears that the conflict could spin out of control, potentially drawing in Iran as well as the United States, Israel's closest ally.
Israel has mobilised reserve brigades and says it is ready for all options, including a ground operation. Despite calls for a ceasefire from global leaders, diplomatic efforts have shown little sign of progress.
