A total of 165 Bangladeshi nationals, including 143 detainees from the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi and 22 others from nearby areas, returned to Bangladesh early Friday morning.
The repatriation was carried out with the support of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the Libyan government, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The returnees, most of whom had entered Libya illegally with the aim of reaching Europe via sea, were reportedly victims of human trafficking. Many of them faced abduction and abuse during their time in Libya.
Their return was made possible through the coordination of multiple authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the IOM.
The repatriated Bangladeshis arrived on a Burak Air flight at 5:30am. Upon their arrival at the airport, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, and the IOM welcomed the returnees.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested that the returnees share their difficult experiences in order to raise public awareness about the risks of irregular migration.
As part of the repatriation process, the IOM provided each returnee with travel assistance, food, basic medical care, and, where necessary, temporary accommodation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, and the IOM are continuing to work together to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi citizens currently detained in various detention centers across Libya.
