174 Bangladeshi migrants repatriated from Libya

Bangladeshi authorities, with support from international partners, brought back 174 irregular migrants to the country from Libyan detention centres on Thursday morning on a Buraq Air flight.

Most of the returnees reportedly entered Libya illegally by sea, intending to travel onward to Europe, after being lured and assisted by human traffickers, said a press release issued by the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Many of the returnees also alleged that they had been kidnapped and subjected to abuse at different times in Libya.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, with support from the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), brought back the undocumented immigrants.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with other relevant ministries and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), received the returnees at the airport. To raise public awareness, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested them to share their harrowing experiences with others.

The International Organization for Migration provided each returnee with travel allowances, some food items, primary medical care, and temporary accommodation when needed.