309 Bangladeshi migrants return from Libya
Diplomatic Correspondent :
Another group of 309 Bangladeshi nationals trapped in conflict-hit Libya returned home on Thursday, as part of the government’s continued efforts to bring back citizens stranded abroad after falling victim to human trafficking networks.
The group arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 10:30 am on a chartered Fly Oya International flight, Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
They were repatriated under a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, with assistance from the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to officials, most of the returnees had entered Libya illegally through the desert route, lured by traffickers with false promises of reaching Europe by sea. Many were later detained by armed groups, held in detention centres or tortured for ransom by trafficking syndicates operating across Libya.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IOM and other agencies received the returnees at the airport. Each migrant was provided with emergency food supplies and basic medical support by IOM.
The Foreign Ministry urged the returnees to share their stories of trafficking, torture and deception to raise awareness and prevent others from falling prey to similar criminal networks.
This is the latest in a series of repatriation efforts by the Bangladesh government. Since 2023, more than a dozen groups of Bangladeshi migrants have been flown home from Libya in phases.
The North African nation has long been a dangerous transit point for irregular migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
Thousands of Bangladeshis continue to risk their lives each year along this route despite repeated warnings from the authorities.
Following increasing reports of abuse, extortion and deaths in the Mediterranean, Bangladesh has intensified diplomatic efforts to bring citizens back from Libyan detention camps.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli are reportedly working to verify the identities of more detainees awaiting safe return.
In recent months, authorities have also launched a crackdown on local trafficking rings in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Madaripur and other districts known as trafficking hubs.
However, officials say the battle against human smuggling requires stronger awareness, cross-border cooperation and tougher prosecution of trafficking syndicates.
Repatriation operations will continue in phases, government officials confirmed.
However, such wave of irregular migration undermines Bangladesh’s well-established overseas employment system, which contributes over $21 billion annually in remittances.
Each migrant who leaves through unofficial channels risks economic exploitation, joblessness, and loss of remittance potential.
These irregular departures also force the government to spend significant resources on repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration, adding pressure on public funds.
The recurring detention and abuse of Bangladeshi nationals abroad-especially in Libya, Yemen, and other transit countries-casts a shadow on the country’s international image.
It signals systemic weaknesses in migration governance, opens Bangladesh to criticism regarding human rights protections, and strains diplomatic relations with both origin and transit countries.
Experts warn that unless root causes-such as unemployment, misinformation, and smuggling networks-are addressed, the cycle will persist.
The recurrence of such incidents is taking place frequently despite repeated call for safe migration.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli has been playing a critical role in the mission, identifying detained nationals and coordinating with Libyan authorities and international agencies.
“We’re working around the clock to ensure every Bangladeshi detained in Libya gets a chance to return home,” said an embassy spokesperson. “But we also urge everyone back home to spread awareness: irregular migration is not only unsafe – it has long-term consequences.”
To tackle the issue at its roots, the government has launched awareness campaigns at the grassroots level, particularly in regions where traffickers are known to operate.
Community leaders, local law enforcement, and migration experts are being engaged to educate the public about legal migration pathways and the severe risks of going abroad without proper documentation, said the concerned departments.
Human rights advocates and government officials agree that the battle against human trafficking is not just about saving lives, but also about preserving Bangladesh’s international integrity.