Around 21 members of Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Bijoy were injured as two explosions rocked the Lebanese capital port Beirut on Tuesday, a ISPR press release said.
According to Bangladesh embassy in Beirut, one of the injured soldiers was in critical condition, five were moderately injured and 13 were released after giving primary treatment.
The critically injured crew was identified as Md Harun Ur Rashid, chief ERA (Senior Warrant Officer).
During the explosion, Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Bijoy, was anchored at the Beirut port. BNS Bijoy is a Castle-class guided missile corvette of the Bangladesh Navy. She has served in the Bangladesh Navy since 2011.
On December 1, 2017, BNS Bijoy departed for Lebanon to join in United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). She replaced two Bangladesh Navy ships, BNS Ali Haider and BNS Nirmul, which had deployed earlier.
The other units of UNIFIL Maritime Task Force units were at sea during the explosion and remain unhurt.
UNIFIL statement on the explosion in Beirut
As a result of a huge explosion that rocked Beirut Port this evening, one of the UNIFIL ships of the Maritime Task Force docked in the port was damaged, leaving some UNIFIL naval peacekeepers injured – some of them seriously.
UNIFIL is transporting the injured peacekeepers to the nearest hospitals for medical treatment.
UNIFIL is currently assessing the situation, including the scale of the impact on UNIFIL personnel.
UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Del Col said: “We are with the people and the Government of Lebanon during this difficult time and stand ready to help and provide any assistance and support.”
