For Beirut blast survivor leaving Lebanon, every day is 4 August | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
June 11, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2025
For Beirut blast survivor leaving Lebanon, every day is 4 August

Middle East

Reuters
02 August, 2021, 04:05 pm
Last modified: 02 August, 2021, 04:05 pm

Related News

  • Israeli military strikes Beirut's southern suburbs
  • UAE to lift three-year Lebanon travel ban
  • Israel launches air strike on Beirut
  • Israel kills a Hamas commander in Lebanon, further testing ceasefire
  • Israel kills Hezbollah official in deadly Beirut airstrike

For Beirut blast survivor leaving Lebanon, every day is 4 August

The gigantic explosion killed more than 200 people, injured thousands, and destroyed large parts of the city

Reuters
02 August, 2021, 04:05 pm
Last modified: 02 August, 2021, 04:05 pm
A view shows damages at the site of a massive explosion in Beirut's port area, as part of the city's skyline in seen in the background, in Beirut, Lebanon August 12, 2020. Picture taken August 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis
A view shows damages at the site of a massive explosion in Beirut's port area, as part of the city's skyline in seen in the background, in Beirut, Lebanon August 12, 2020. Picture taken August 12, 2020. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

For Beirut blast survivor Shady Rizk, time has stopped since Aug. 4 last year when a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate exploded in the Lebanese capital's port opposite his office.

"Every day is Aug. 4, every day," the 36-year-old said.

"Every day, I remember the blast or remember what happened that dreadful day."

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

The gigantic explosion killed more than 200 people, injured thousands, and destroyed large parts of the city.

Rizk was in the office where he works for an internet provider and was filming the smoke rising from an initial explosion at the port when the second blast hit.

It left him with 350 stitches all over his body and face, and partially impaired his vision.

Having survived the near-death experience, Rizk considers Aug. 4 his re-birth and he now wants to continue this new chapter of his life away from Lebanon.

"I don't feel safe in my country, this is why I want to leave...This is the hardest decision I took in my life," Rizk said.

He has now applied for immigration to Canada and plans to be there by October this year. Meanwhile, he still lives at his family house in a Beirut suburb with a view on the port, a daily reminder of his traumatic experience.

As Wednesday's anniversary of the blast nears, Rizk says his "internal angriness" grows, fuelled by the stalling of an investigation into the blast. He is one of many Lebanese angry at the lack of accountability one year later.

"No one has yet been arrested, no one resigned, no one is in jail...The truth is not yet known," Rizk said.

Rizk's doctor is still extracting glass from his body. And even though many of his scars have now been treated, he is "still healing" both physically and mentally.

"The internal scars are even worse, I may physically heal eventually but psychologically, I don't know when I will heal," he said, speaking as he stood in the street of his damaged office facing the port's wrecked silos.

Rizk is still unsure of his exact plans on the day of the blast anniversary. He fears it will bring back memories of "indescribable pain" but is certain he wants to be on the streets near the port, expressing his anger.

Top News / World+Biz

Lebanon / Beirut blast

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus (L) and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (R). Photo: BSS
    UK PM to visit Canada, will meet CA if schedule matches: CA press secy
  • Rawhide salting at Posta in Old Dhaka on Eid-ul-Adha 2025. Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    No fair price for hides this year too despite govt rate hike, export permission
  • Demonstrators react to crowd control munitions being shot at them as protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in downtown Los Angeles, California, U.S. 10 June 2025. Photo: REUTERS
    US Marines arrive in LA; California governor warns 'democracy under assault'

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS
    Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon
  • A file photo of Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. Photo: Collected
    'I have no relation with this': Ahsan Mansur debunks Joy’s allegations over daughter’s Dubai flat
  • Faiz Ahmad Tayeb. Photo: BSS
    Import duty on raw materials for e-bikes, lithium batteries reduced from 80% to 1% in some cases: Faiz Taiyeb
  • Screengrab from video shows a group of local youths forcing tourists to leave a tourist spot in Utmachhra area of Sylhet's Companiganj on Sunday, 8 June 2025, citing allegations of obscene activities and environmental damage
    Locals declare tourist spot in Sylhet 'closed', force visitors to leave
  • Shakil Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    DU student allegedly hangs himself following threats over old derogatory comment about Prophet on Facebook
  • Photo shows the Land Cruiser Prado car belonging to former member of parliament (MP) Anwarul Azim Anar found in Kushtia. Photo: TBS
    Luxury car of ex-AL MP Anar, who was killed in Kolkata, found in Kushtia

Related News

  • Israeli military strikes Beirut's southern suburbs
  • UAE to lift three-year Lebanon travel ban
  • Israel launches air strike on Beirut
  • Israel kills a Hamas commander in Lebanon, further testing ceasefire
  • Israel kills Hezbollah official in deadly Beirut airstrike

Features

Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

15h | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

2d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

3d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Aviation giants Airbus, Menzies seek long-time partnership with Bangladesh

Aviation giants Airbus, Menzies seek long-time partnership with Bangladesh

52m | TBS Stories
Greta Thunberg deported from Israel

Greta Thunberg deported from Israel

17h | TBS World
BNP is not a revolutionary party: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP is not a revolutionary party: Mirza Fakhrul

18h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 10 JUNE 2025

News of The Day, 10 JUNE 2025

16h | TBS News of the day
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net