Family of Bangladeshi Worker Killed in Israeli Strike Demands Accountability and Peace

The family of Mohammad Nizam, a Bangladeshi worker killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, has called for an end to the conflict, placing responsibility solely on Israel. With thousands of Bangladeshi nationals in Lebanon, the family mourns the loss and grapples with the reality of war affecting their hopes for a reunion.

DHAKA: The family of a Bangladeshi worker, Mohammad Nizam, who lost his life in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon, expressed their devastation on Sunday, placing full accountability on Tel Aviv for his death. They have urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. Estimates by the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry suggest that there are between 70,000 and 100,000 Bangladeshi nationals residing in Lebanon, many engaged in labor or domestic services. Mohammad Nizam, 31 years old, was tragically killed on Saturday afternoon while stopping at a coffee shop en route to his workplace in Beirut, as stated by Javed Tanveer Khan, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Lebanon. Nizam’s elder brother, Mohammad Jalal, articulated his grief and anger: “Israel is solely responsible for the death of my brother. This war should be stopped without any delay.” From the onset of the latest Israeli offensive in Lebanon, Jalal had been anxious about his brother’s safety. He lamented, “Since the beginning of recent Israeli attacks in Lebanon, I have been worried about Nizam’s safety. But I couldn’t imagine this tragic end to my brother’s life. If I could have sensed this outcome even a little bit, I would have brought him back at any cost.” The Lebanese Health Ministry reports that the death toll from Israeli strikes has escalated to nearly 3,000, with more than 13,300 individuals injured, many being civilians and medical personnel affected by the ongoing conflict. Jalal questioned the rationale behind the violence, voicing his despair: “I don’t understand how many innocent lives need to be sacrificed to satisfy the whims of the Israeli leadership. It’s simply inhuman, insane and cynical.” Following the escalation of hostilities, around 1,800 Bangladeshi citizens have registered for evacuation flights organized by the Dhaka government in coordination with the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration. However, Nizam did not register for evacuation, as his brother noted that he had not returned home since commencing work in Lebanon twelve years ago. Jalal recalled their last conversation, where Nizam discussed plans to build a house in their village and express his intention to return by the end of the year. “But now all of our dreams for a happy reunion have faded away with this sudden blow,” Jalal lamented. Though efforts have been made to repatriate Nizam’s body, officials currently state that such arrangements are impossible due to the ongoing conflict. Jalal remains hopeful: “Now I am waiting to see my brother’s face for one last time and bury him in our village. But I have no idea whether it would be possible or not amid this war situation. I don’t know when I will be able to see his face.”

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has escalated significantly, particularly affecting Lebanon where Israeli airstrikes have resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Bangladeshi expatriates, primarily workers in various low-skilled jobs, have been impacted by this unrest as they face both the dangers of military actions and the challenges associated with being far from home in a war-torn region. The situation has led to governmental responses in Bangladesh, including organized evacuation flights for its nationals, as the crisis deepens.

The death of Mohammad Nizam underscores the tragic human cost of the conflict in the Middle East, particularly for expatriates caught in the crossfire. His family’s grief highlights the urgent need for accountability and peace, as they remain in a state of uncertainty regarding the return of his body and the prospect of closure amidst the ongoing violence.

Original Source: www.arabnews.com