Foreign Affairs Md Touhid Hossain saidcon Thursday the government would bring back documented Bangladeshis first from Lebanon who want to return voluntarily. 

Briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hossain said there are some Bangladeshis who are not willing to return despite knowing the danger as they are thinking of income sources once they return. 

He also said there are some Bangladeshis who are not willing to return as they are working in safe areas. 

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

The Adviser said they are seeking cooperation from the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) in this regard.

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There are 70,000 to 1 lakh Bangladeshis in Lebanon and around 1800 got enrolled to return to Bangladesh. 

Each batch of the returnees may consist of at least 50 Bangladeshis.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment are working together for the return of Bangladeshis trapped in war-torn Lebanon.

The government is working closely with all concerned to bring back all the Bangladeshis who wish to return from Lebanon safely, said the foreign ministry.

Earlier, an inter-ministerial meeting was held with the participation of Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Expatriates’ Welfare Secretary Md Ruhul Amin and Managing Director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman.

Bangladesh's mission heads assigned to the Middle East joined the meeting on the Zoom platform.

Steps taken to ensure the safe return of Bangladeshis from war-hit Lebanon, said the ministry.

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The Foreign Secretary has issued necessary instructions to the Bangladeshi Ambassador  in Lebanon to take necessary measures for the safe return of the stranded Bangladeshis.

He also gave instructions to ensure the safety of all the expatriate Bangladeshis staying there who do not wish to return to the country.

A notification was issued to enroll Bangladeshis who wish to return from the embassy and initially about a thousand migrant workers are said to be willing to return home.