Bangladesh’s Minister of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, informed parliament that twelve Bangladeshi nationals have died so far in the ongoing Middle East war centered on Iran. The casualties include five in Lebanon, three in Saudi Arabia, two in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Iraq and Bahrain. He shared the information during a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.

The minister said that under the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board’s funding, a total of 186 people, including 12 women and eight children, have been brought back from Iran amid the conflict. He added that one of the deceased was buried abroad, while nine bodies have already been repatriated to Bangladesh. Families of the deceased received financial support of 35,000 taka for burial expenses and an additional 50,000 taka as special assistance.

Chowdhury also announced logistical improvements at airports, including new freezing ambulances in Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram, additional trolleys at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and wheelchairs for injured or ill workers. Plans are underway to establish a migrant lounge and medical corner at Sylhet Osmani International Airport.