The first group of 11 Bangladeshi nationals who were stranded in war-torn Yemen have arrived in Dhaka from Djibouti by an Emirates flight.
A flight of Emirates Airlines carrying 11 people landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 6pm, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam told Dhaka Tribune Correspondent Adil Sakhawat.
Additional Foreign Secretary Mizanur Rahman received them at the airport. Senior officials of the ministry were also present on the occasion, a Foreign Ministry press release said.
As of Friday, 304 Bangladeshi nationals have been evacuated from Yemen to Djibouti. Out of them, 272 Bangladeshis were rescued by Indian Naval Ship (INS) from Hodeida and 20 have been evacuated by Air India from Sanaa.
“The remaining 287 Bangladeshis are currently staying in Djibouti under the arrangement of the Foreign Ministry,” it said.
The Foreign Ministry has set up a “Repatriation Control Room” in Djibouti led by the Bangladesh Ambassador in Kuwait to conduct the repatriation process.
It is expected that more Bangladeshis will be evacuated from Yemen to Djibouti for ultimate repatriation to Bangladesh soon.
The whole repatriation operation is being carried out under the direct supervision of Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali, the release added.
Earlier on April 7, Bangladesh along with 25 countries sought India’s assistance to evacuate its citizens from strife-hit Yemen.
Countries that have sought India’s assistance in evacuating its nationals from the war-ravaged Yemen, includes, USA, France, Germany, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, Ireland, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iraq, among others.
MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin shared the information on micro-blogging site Twitter on Tuesday.
“Requests for Indian assistance in evacuation from Yemen keeps growing. On last count 26 requests received,” he posted.
India on Friday stepped up its evacuation. At least 1,052 Indians, including a newborn baby, have been evacuated from Yemen till Thursday.
Yemen has been engulfed in strife, as Shia Houthi rebels continued their advance against exiled president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi’s loyalists who are being supported by Saudi Arabia-led air strikes.
Source: Dhaka Tribune