A group of 174 Bangladeshi nationals, who had been detained at Tajoura Detention Centre in Libya and wished to return home voluntarily, were repatriated home on Tuesday.
The returnees arrived at the airport at 9:47am on a flight operated by Buraq Air.
Their repatriation was facilitated through the joint efforts of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, and Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, in collaboration with Libyan government and International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Most of the repatriated individuals had reportedly entered Libya illegally with the intention of travelling to Europe by sea, having been persuaded and assisted by human traffickers.
There are also allegations that many of them fell victim to abduction and torture at various times during their stay in Libya.
Officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other relevant ministries, and IOM welcomed the returnees at the airport. To raise public awareness about the dangers of irregular migration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested them to share their harrowing experiences with others.
As part of the humanitarian assistance, IOM provided each repatriated individual with travel expenses, food items, basic medical treatment, and temporary accommodation where necessary.
Currently, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and IOM are working together to ensure the safe repatriation of other Bangladeshi citizens detained in various detention centres across Libya.
