174 return from Libya
A total of 174 Bangladeshi nationals returned home from Libya early Wednesday under a voluntary repatriation programme coordinated by the government, amid continuing concerns over human trafficking, irregular migration and the growing social and economic costs associated with unsafe journeys to Europe.
The returnees arrived in Dhaka at around 5:00am on a Buraq Air flight with support from the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to officials, most of the returnees had travelled to Libya through irregular channels after being lured by traffickers with promises of reaching Europe by sea. Many reportedly faced abduction, torture, extortion and severe abuse while in Libya.
Officials from the foreign ministry, relevant government agencies and the IOM received the returnees at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The foreign ministry urged the returnees to share their experiences publicly to raise awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking networks.
The IOM provided financial assistance, food support, basic medical care and temporary accommodation where necessary.
Authorities here said efforts are continuing to secure the safe return of Bangladeshi nationals currently held in various detention centres in Libya. The foreign ministry, Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli, expatriates’ welfare ministry and international agencies are jointly working on the repatriation process.
Libya has remained one of the main transit points for migrants attempting to enter Europe through the Mediterranean route. Over the past decade, thousands of Bangladeshis have travelled there through illegal channels, often paying large sums to traffickers.
However, many become trapped in armed conflict zones, detention camps or criminal trafficking networks after arriving in the North African country.
Labour migration has long been one of Bangladesh’s key economic pillars, with remittance inflows contributing significantly to foreign exchange reserves and rural household incomes. But irregular migration to Libya presents a different reality.
Economists and migration experts say migrants travelling through unauthorised routes rarely enter stable employment and often fail to send regular remittances home. In many cases, families in Bangladesh are instead forced to sell land, borrow money or mortgage assets to pay traffickers or ransom demands after migrants are kidnapped abroad.
The repeated repatriation of distressed migrants also creates additional financial pressure on the state, requiring diplomatic engagement, emergency coordination and reintegration support.
Bangladesh received more than $24 billion in remittances in recent years, largely from legally employed migrant workers in Gulf countries and elsewhere. Officials say protecting formal migration channels is therefore essential for sustaining remittance growth and labour market stability.
Irregular migration through Libya has repeatedly triggered humanitarian tragedies involving Bangladeshi nationals.
In one of the deadliest incidents, at least 26 Bangladeshis were killed near the Libyan town of Mizdah in 2020 after traffickers opened fire on migrants. The killings drew widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of trafficking syndicates operating across South Asia and North Africa.
Numerous shipwrecks in the Mediterranean over the years have also involved Bangladeshi migrants attempting to reach Italy or other European destinations.
Migration analysts say these incidents have had deep social consequences in Bangladesh, particularly in rural areas where young people are often persuaded by traffickers to pursue risky migration routes in hopes of securing jobs and better incomes abroad.
Families of victims frequently face long-term debt burdens, trauma and social instability after losing earning members or paying large sums for failed migration attempts.
The government has in recent years intensified campaigns against human trafficking and urged citizens to use legal migration pathways through authorised recruitment agencies.
