DHAKA, May 10, 2023 (BSS) - Bangladesh government has decided to hire four chartered flights at its own cost to evacuate the remaining Bangladeshi nationals from Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

"We have chartered four planes with our own funds as we are yet to find available ships from the Saudi authorities to transport the Bangladeshis from Port Sudan to Jeddah," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam at the foreign ministry today.

He said Bangladesh government has sent required financial support through its mission in Jeddah for providing food to Bangladeshis, who are waiting in Sudan.

Three of the chartered flights will be operated by today while the fourth to be operated tomorrow, Alam said, adding that the evacuated Bangladeshis will be flown home by commercial flights from Jeddah. 

They were supported by IOM with air tickets through its internal emergency assistance funding mechanisms to travel from Jeddah to Dhaka with the coordinated support from Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

On Tuesday, 136 Bangladeshi nationals arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

Upon arrival the returnees were provided with meals and onward transportation allowance from the Wage Earners' Welfare Board and IOM.