171 Bangladeshis returned from Libya

A total of 171 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Libya after being held at the Ganfouda Detention Centre in Benghazi, as the government renewed its warning against irregular migration to Europe through human trafficking networks.

The returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 6:22am on Thursday aboard a Buraq Air flight.

The voluntary repatriation was arranged through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the Ministry of Expatriates” Welfare and Overseas Employment, with the support of the Libyan authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to the Foreign Ministry, 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, abuse and other forms of exploitation while in Libya before being detained.

Officials from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the IOM received the returnees at the airport.

The Foreign Ministry urged the repatriated migrants to share their experiences with others to raise public awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and the risks posed by human trafficking networks.

The IOM provided each returnee with travel assistance, food, primary medical care and, where necessary, temporary accommodation to support their reintegration.

The Foreign Ministry said it would continue working with the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the IOM to ensure the safe return of Bangladeshi nationals held in detention centres across Libya.