A total of 161 stranded irregular Bangladeshi migrants returned home on Wednesday from Libya and Tunisia separately.
The repatriation took place under the joint initiative of the foreign ministry, the Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a foreign ministry’s press release said.
Among the returnees, 143 returned home from Libya on a chartered Buraq Air flight, which landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 6:15am.
Before that 18 stranded Bangladeshi returned from Tunisia by a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at HSIA at 5:25am.
Upon arrival, the repatriated migrants were received by the officials of the foreign ministry and the IOM at the airport.
Most of the returnees had entered Libya and Tunisia illegally with the intention of reaching Europe by sea, influenced and aided by human traffickers.
Many of them had suffered abduction and abuse during their time in Libya, said the press release.
The foreign ministry’s officials urged the returnees to raise awareness within their communities about the danger of illegal migration, particularly the perilous journey to Europe via Libya.
The IOM provided Tk5,450 to each individual repatriated from Tunisia and Tk6,000 to each returnee from Libya as well as food supplies, medical assistance, and temporary accommodation, if required.
The foreign ministry, along with the Bangladesh mission in Tripoli and the IOM, is making tireless efforts to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained in various detention centres across Libya.