400 expat Bangladeshis cross over to Poland from Ukraine

Around 400 expatriate Bangladeshis have safely crossed the Ukrainian border and reached Poland, fleeing the war between Russia and Ukraine that began on Thursday.

Among them, 46 Bangladeshis are in temporary shelter arranged by the Bangladesh Embassy in Warsaw, said the foreign ministry in a statement.

"The rest of them are in their own arrangements as per their own choice though they were offered shelter by the embassy," it said.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Poland is working to rescue and relocate 28 Bangladesh nationals through ICRC, Ukraine. The embassy is also working to evacuate Bangladeshis who are in jail or detained in Ukraine through IOM, Ukraine, it also said.

Besides, 15 Bangladeshi students have arrived in Hungary and are now being looked after by the Bangladesh Embassy in Vienna. The number is likely to go up in the next few days. They are also willing to return to Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, three Bangladeshis have so far entered Romania and the Bangladesh Embassy in Bucharest is looking after them.

Seven more Bangladeshis are expected to enter Romania soon. They are also willing to return to Bangladesh immediately. The Government of Bangladesh is arranging their repatriation, added the statement.