Dhaka: As the first group of evacuees arrived in Dhaka on Monday, officials there said that Bangladesh was appreciative of Saudi Arabia's assistance in getting its citizens out of Sudan.
After deadly fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces, which resulted in the deaths of over 500 people and the injuries of over 4,000 others, foreign nations have been evacuating their citizens from Sudan.
Despite the fact that mass evacuation efforts started on April 24 when the warring parties declared a ceasefire, it wasn't until Sunday that more than 100 Bangladeshis were taken out of Sudan because their country in South Asia began rescue efforts much later.
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The 135 passengers were flown from Port Sudan to Jeddah on flights run by the Saudi air force. After that, they took a flight with Biman Bangladesh Airlines to Bangladesh, landing in Dhaka on Monday.
Mohammed Javed Patwary, the ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia, gave a phone interview to Arab News, saying, "On behalf of myself, our embassy, and the people of our country, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
We have been in contact with Kingdom officials since the beginning of the fighting, and they have offered us unwavering support. Saudi Arabia's assistance has been crucial in the evacuation efforts for many nations.
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Through the port of Jeddah, thousands of foreign nationals have been transported from Sudan by sea. Director-general of the Consular and Welfare Wing of the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shah Mohammed Tanvir Monsur said to Arab News, "We are very grateful to the Saudi authorities for extending support in this evacuation process.
"The Kingdom offers all of its assistance at no cost. The Saudis are making every effort to get the trapped people out of the unrest-stricken Sudan, he said. It would have been a major issue if the Kingdom's authorities hadn't offered assistance with the evacuation at this critical juncture.
In Port Sudan, hundreds of Bangladeshis remain stranded in a claustrophobic makeshift camp while they wait to be evacuated. It is still unclear when they will be taken to safety.
The second group of Bangladeshi evacuees is expected to arrive in Jeddah on Tuesday, but officials said plans frequently change because there are so many requests for evacuation from other nations.
"Probably on Tuesday, the second group of Bangladeshis will travel to Jeddah. Nothing has been confirmed yet," said Monsur.