170 Bangladeshis return from Libya
A total of 170 irregular Bangladeshi migrants have been repatriated from Libya’s Benghazi on Monday morning.
They have returned as part of a coordinated effort involving the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh, and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Bangladesh, with support from Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration.
The group returned home on a Burak Air flight that landed at around 8:35 am. Officials from the foreign ministry, expatriates’ welfare ministry, and IOM were present at the airport to receive the returnees and oversee their safe arrival.
According to preliminary information, most of those repatriated had entered Libya irregularly, reportedly influenced by human traffickers who promised passage to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Many of them were later stranded in Libya under precarious conditions.
Authorities also noted that several of the returnees had reportedly endured kidnapping, exploitation, and physical abuse while in Libya.
Officials described their accounts as a stark reminder of the risks associated with irregular migration routes. Following their arrival, IOM provided immediate assistance to each returnee, including travel allowances, food packages, basic medical care, and temporary shelter support where necessary.
Officials said these measures aim to help reintegrate the returnees and address their urgent humanitarian needs.
Bangladeshi authorities reiterated that efforts are ongoing, in coordination with Libyan counterparts and international partners, to secure the safe return of nationals held in detention centres across Libya.
They also emphasised the importance of raising public awareness to discourage unsafe and irregular migration pathways.
Officials urged the returnees to share their experiences, noting that firsthand testimonies could play a vital role in warning others about the dangers posed by human trafficking networks operating across transit countries.
The repatriation marks another phase in continuing joint operations between Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions, relevant ministries, and international agencies to manage migration challenges and ensure the safe return of vulnerable citizens abroad.
