Published: June 17, 2025, 01:54 PM
As Israeli strikes on Iran continue since Friday, the safety of the Bangladesh embassy in Tehran has come under serious threat. Located within a kilometer of at least two high-value Iranian sites, including the Tehran University’s Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine—which has already been targeted— the embassy complex is now considered highly vulnerable.
According to a confidential report sent by the Bangladesh embassy in Tehran to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday morning, the situation has escalated to the point where immediate evacuation has been deemed necessary. A senior ministry official confirmed the development on Monday evening.
The report stated that due to the repeated targeting of sensitive sites nearby, including a major IT hub in the city, the safety of embassy staff and their families is at significant risk. As a result, the government has directed an urgent relocation of all embassy personnel and their families to a safer location at least 30–40 kilometers outside of Tehran. However, finding such a secure location remains a major challenge given the current volatility.
The embassy currently hosts around 40 individuals, including the ambassador, two officials, five employees, and their families. Additionally, eight Bangladeshis work at Radio Tehran, accompanied by their family members—making a total of 27. Around 10–12 students and 10 professionals are also residing in Tehran. Another 28 Bangladeshis who were scheduled to return to Dhaka have been stranded due to flight suspensions.
In total, over 100 Bangladeshi nationals remain in Tehran, according to the foreign ministry.
The report also mentions that approximately 2,000 Bangladeshis living in Iran are considered relatively safe, with most having relocated outside Tehran following Israel’s warning to evacuate the capital.
Government sources estimate that around 600 Bangladeshis have been living in various parts of Iran for over 30 years, many of whom have settled there permanently. Another 800 are believed to be undocumented migrants working in various sectors for more than a decade. Nearly 200 students are enrolled in Iranian institutions, while an estimated 300–500 individuals are believed to be temporarily staying in Iran as part of human trafficking routes.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the Bangladesh embassy in Tehran has launched an emergency hotline for nationals in Iran. The embassy urges citizens to contact +989908577368 or +989122065745 (also available via WhatsApp) for urgent assistance.
