123 BD migrants rescued from Libya detention

Diplomatic Correspondent :

At least 123 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Libya, underscoring the ongoing risks associated with irregular migration and raising pressing concerns over the vulnerabilities within the country’s labour migration framework.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:50am on Thursday via a chartered Buraq Air flight. The repatriation was facilitated through a coordinated effort involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Most of the migrants were reportedly misled by human traffickers, who promised them passage to Europe via Libya. Instead, many found themselves detained, abducted, or subjected to inhumane treatment-posing both humanitarian and diplomatic challenges for Bangladesh.

Such incidents cast a shadow over the country’s formal overseas employment system, which contributes over $21 billion annually in remittance earnings. Migration through unofficial channels not only places individuals at risk of exploitation and unemployment but also diminishes remittance potential. The government, in turn, is compelled to allocate significant resources for repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration – placing additional strain on public finances.

The frequent detention and abuse of Bangladeshi nationals in Libya, Yemen, and other transit countries also affects the nation’s international image. It exposes weaknesses in migration governance, draws criticism over human rights protections, and complicates diplomatic relations with host and transit countries.

To support reintegration, the IOM provided each returnee with Tk 6,000 in cash assistance, along with food supplies, basic medical care, and temporary shelter where necessary. Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry were present at the airport to receive the returnees. They urged greater public awareness regarding the dangers of irregular migration.

Officials stressed the urgent need for a nationally coordinated campaign to combat human trafficking, strengthen legal migration channels, and promote skills development aligned with global labour markets.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli and other government agencies continue their efforts to secure the release and safe return of nationals held in Libyan detention facilities. However, experts caution that without addressing the root causes – such as unemployment, misinformation, and trafficking networks – such incidents are likely to continue.

This latest repatriation follows the return of another 158 irregular migrants from Libya just two days earlier, highlighting the frequent recurrence of such cases despite repeated calls for safe and legal migration.