21 Bangladesh Navy men hurt, BNS Bijoy damaged in Beirut Blast

At least 21 members of Bangladesh Navy were injured in the deadly explosion in Lebanon's Beirut on Tuesday. 

Some 110 Navy officials were on Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Bijoy, anchored at the Beirut port, during the blast, said a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) today. 

Of the injured, Md Harun Ur Rashid, chief ERA, is in critical condition. He is currently being treated at American University of Beirut Medical Center. Other injured Navy men are undergoing treatment at Hadum Hospital. 

Immediately after the incident, Major General Jahangir Al Mustahidur Rahman, Ambassador of Bangladeshi High Commission visited BNS Bijoy and helped in transferring the injured and in their treatment.

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Head of Mission, Force Commander and Maritime Taskforce are observing closely the situation and have assured of all kinds of help.
 
The total damage of BNS Bijoy is being estimated.

The warship of Bangladesh Navy has been participating in peacekeeping mission of United Nations since 2010. The corvette "Bijoy" is working in peacekeeping mission of UNIFIL as a member of Multinational Maritime Taskforce in Mediterranean Sea.

The ship is working efficiently to stop entry of illegal weapons and explosives in Lebanon.

Besides, two Bangladeshi workers were killed in the blast.

On Tuesday, a powerful blast in port warehouses near central Beirut storing highly explosive material killed more than 100 people, injured nearly 4,000 and sent seismic shockwaves that shattered windows, smashed masonry and shook the ground across the Lebanese capital.