174 Bangladeshis return from Libyan detention centres

A total of 174 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals detained at the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi and the Tajoura Detention Centre in Tripoli, Libya, were repatriated to Bangladesh on Tuesday.

A Buraq Air flight, carrying the Bangladeshi returnees, landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:15am.

The repatriation was carried out through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Libyan authorities, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Most of the returnees reportedly entered Libya after being lured and assisted by human traffickers while attempting to reach Europe illegally by sea. Many of them also alleged that they had been abducted and subjected to abuse at different times during their stay in Libya.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other relevant government agencies, and the IOM received the returnees at the airport. To raise public awareness, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the returnees to share their harrowing experiences with others. The IOM also provided each returnee with travel allowances, food supplies, primary medical assistance, and temporary accommodation where necessary.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the IOM continue to work together to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained at various detention centres across Libya.