A total of 170 Bangladeshi nationals seeking voluntary repatriation from Benghazi, Libya, returned home on Tuesday morning.
The repatriation process was conducted through the joint efforts of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, with the cooperation of the Libyan government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Reports indicate that most of the repatriated individuals had entered Libya illegally with the assistance and provocation of human traffickers, intending to reach Europe by sea.
Many of them fell victim to abduction and torture at various times during their stay in Libya.
Officials from MoFA, other relevant ministries, and the IOM welcomed the returning citizens at the airport. To raise public awareness, MoFA requested the returnees to share their harrowing experiences with the public.
As part of the support package, IOM provided each repatriated individual with pocket money, food items, preliminary medical treatment, and, where necessary, temporary accommodation.
