12 Bangladeshis killed in Middle East conflict, 186 repatriated from Iran: Expat minister
Financial assistance has been provided to the families of the deceased, while repatriation and support measures for affected expatriates are continuing, says the minister.
A total of 12 Bangladeshi nationals have been killed amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and 186 Bangladeshis have been repatriated from Iran so far with funding from the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury told Parliament today (9 July).
During a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, the minister said the repatriated group included 12 women and eight children who were brought back from Iran under government-supported evacuation efforts.
Providing details of the fatalities, Ariful said five Bangladeshis died in Lebanon, three in Saudi Arabia, two in the United Arab Emirates, one in Iraq, and one in Bahrain.
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Of the 12 victims, one was buried in the country where they died, while the bodies of nine others have already been brought back to Bangladesh, he said.
The government has provided Tk35,000 to each bereaved family to cover burial-related expenses from the airport, along with a special grant of Tk50,000 for each family, he added.
The minister said the Wage Earners' Welfare Board has been financing the repatriation of Bangladeshis affected by the conflict in Iran and noted that the government also facilitates the return of expatriate workers from different countries during wars and natural disasters.
Highlighting initiatives to improve services for migrant workers, Ariful said two freezer ambulances have been added to the ambulance fleet at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet. Another ambulance has also been deployed at Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.
He added that two more ambulances are already operating at Dhaka airport.
The minister also said the process is underway to procure 200 luggage trolleys for expatriate passengers at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, while 10 wheelchairs have been provided to assist injured and sick migrant workers boarding and disembarking from aircraft.
In addition, the government is working to establish an expatriate lounge at Osmani International Airport, introduce hygienic meals at a 30% discount for migrant workers, and set up a first-aid medical corner at the airport, he said.
