165 Bangladeshis Repatriated from Libya after Escaping Detention and Distress

A group of 165 Bangladeshi nationals, many of whom had been held in detention or were living in dire conditions, returned home early Friday morning after a successful repatriation mission from Libya. 

The flight, operated by Buraq Air, touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:30 am.

The repatriation was the result of a coordinated effort between the Bangladesh government, Libyan authorities, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 143 of the returnees had been held at the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi, while the remaining 22 were individuals who had been living in distress or were suffering from illness and had voluntarily sought assistance to return home.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the IOM were present at the airport to receive the returnees. 

Upon arrival, the IOM provided the group with travel allowances, food, medical screenings, and temporary accommodation for those in need of further support.

Investigations into the backgrounds of the returnees revealed a recurring pattern of exploitation. Most of the individuals had entered Libya through irregular channels after being misled by human traffickers with false promises of crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Europe. 

In light of these risks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged the returnees to share their traumatic experiences with their communities to serve as a warning against the dangers of irregular migration.

The government maintains that the safe return of its citizens remains a top priority. 

The Ministry confirmed it is continuing to work closely with the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the IOM to identify and facilitate the repatriation of other Bangladeshi nationals currently held in various detention centers across the North African nation.