The first batch of stranded Bangladeshis in war-torn Lebanon was evacuated on Sunday as a charter aircraft carrying 132 Bangladeshis, including women and children, arrived in Dhaka, officials and television channels said.

High officials of the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment received the Bangladeshis at the airport.

The officials said the first batch of Bangladeshis returning to Dhaka started their journey from Lebanon three days ago. Initially they were taken to Damascus, the capital of Syria with the help of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Over 10,000 Bangladeshis are working legally and illegally in Lebanon, but IOM officials in Dhaka said most of the Bangladeshis are unwilling to leave that country for fear of losing jobs.

The officials said on return each family was given some money to travel to their homes.

Source: Xinhua