170 Bangladeshis return home from Libya

A total of 170 Bangladeshi nationals detained at two detention centres in Libya have been repatriated to Bangladesh.

They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:20am on Wednesday aboard a special flight operated by Buraq Air, said a foreign ministry press release.

The returnees had been held at the Ganfouda Detention Centre in Benghazi and the Tajoura Detention Centre in Tripoli. Their repatriation was arranged through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to officials, most of the returnees had entered Libya illegally after being lured by human traffickers with promises of reaching Europe by sea. Many of them reportedly fell victim to abduction and torture during their stay in the North African country.

Officials from the foreign ministry, other relevant government agencies and the IOM received the returnees at the airport.

The foreign ministry requested the returnees to share their experiences with others to raise public awareness about the risks of irregular migration and human trafficking.

The IOM provided each returnee with travel assistance, food items, primary healthcare support and, where necessary, temporary accommodation.

The foreign ministry said it, along with the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the IOM, is continuing efforts to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained at different detention centres across Libya.