Bangladesh to evacuate its citizens from Libya
By DPA, IANSTuesday, February 22, 2011
DHAKA - The government in Dhaka said Tuesday it was working to evacuate Bangladeshi workers from Libya.
“We are in constant touch with international agencies concerned with the evacuation of Bangladeshi workers trapped in the turmoil,” Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said.
She said the government was receiving reports that Bangladeshi workers were taken hostage or injured in attacks, but there was no official confirmation.
Bangladesh could not establish contact with 5,500 workers in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city, where officials said the protesters have taken foreign labourers hostage.
According to official statistics some 95,194 Bangladeshis work in Libya.
The foreign ministry expressed concern over the violence and hoped that all concerned would “exercise restraint and bring about a peaceful resolution of the crisis”.
“We look forward to an early return of normalcy in Libya,” the statement said, adding that the government was exploring all options to ensure the safety and security of all Bangladeshi nationals in Libya.
Anti-government protesters in Libya are demanding an end to the 41-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi. A government crackdown on the protesters left hundreds of people dead.
