The body of Ahmed Ali, a Dubai expatriate killed in the Iran-Israel war, has arrived in Sylhet. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury received the body when the flight carrying it arrived at Sylhet’s Osmani International Airport on Monday afternoon.
Briefing journalists after receiving the body, the minister informed that four Bangladeshi expatriates have been killed so far in the ongoing war. Among them, Ahmed Ali’s body has arrived in the country. The bodies of the other three expatriates will also be brought to the country after completing necessary formalities abroad.
The minister further stated that immediately after the war began, a crisis team was formed on the prime minister’s directive, comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Through this team, food assistance is being provided to those unable to leave their homes due to the war, and necessary support, including medical treatment for the injured, is being extended. He also informed that Bangladeshi embassies in the respective countries have been instructed to relocate expatriates living near US military bases to a safe distance.
Urging expatriates to exercise patience amidst the war situation, the minister said the government is fully prepared to tackle the crisis faced by expatriates. If the war becomes prolonged, the government will take necessary measures considering the situation.
The government will do whatever is needed for the expatriates. He also informed that various forms of assistance are being provided to Bangladeshi expatriates in Lebanon through the International Labour Organization (ILO).
In response to questions from journalists, Kamal Ahmed, a relative of the deceased Ahmed Ali, thanked the prime minister, saying, “My brother had been living abroad for 27 years. I consider him one of the country’s finest expatriates. We are grateful for the cooperation extended by the prime minister, from the time my brother was killed in the war until his body was brought back home. Besides, the Expatriates’ Welfare Minister has also been in regular contact with us since learning of my brother’s death and has provided full assistance in repatriating the body.”
Present at the airport during the reception of the body were the deceased expatriate’s son, Abdul Haque; Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry Senior Secretary Dr Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan; Wage Earners’ Welfare Board Director General Md Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan; Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi; Range DIG Md Mushfequr Rahman; SMP Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury; and District Commissioner Md Sarwar Alam.
Later, the minister accompanied the body of the deceased expatriate Ahmed Ali to his village home in Barlekha, Moulvibazar.
