A total of 170 Bangladeshi nationals detained in Libya’s Ganfuda detention centre in Benghazi and Tajoura detention centre in Tripoli have been repatriated to Bangladesh.
They arrived in Dhaka at around 5:20am on Wednesday aboard a special flight operated by Buraq Air, according to a press release.
The repatriation was successfully carried out with the cooperation of the Libyan government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through coordinated efforts by the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Officials said most of the returnees had travelled to Libya irregularly, reportedly with the assistance of human traffickers, in an attempt to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Many of them were subjected to abduction and abuse while stranded in Libya.
Officials from the foreign ministry, relevant agencies and IOM received the returnees at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
As part of reintegration support, the IOM provided each returnee with travel assistance, food, basic medical care and temporary accommodation where required.
Authorities said Bangladesh’s foreign ministry, its mission in Libya, the expatriates’ welfare ministry and IOM are jointly working to ensure the safe return of Bangladeshi nationals detained in different facilities across Libya.
