A total of 174 Bangladeshi nationals detained at the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi, Libya, have been repatriated to Bangladesh.
They arrived in Bangladesh on a special Buraq Air flight at 6am on Tuesday.
The repatriation was carried out in cooperation with the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Most of the repatriated Bangladeshis reportedly entered Libya with the assistance of human traffickers, intending to travel illegally to Europe by sea. Many of them were allegedly abducted and tortured in Libya at different times.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other relevant ministries and the IOM welcomed the returnees at the airport.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the returnees to share their experiences to help raise public awareness about the risks associated with irregular migration and human trafficking.
The IOM provided each returnee with travel assistance, food, first aid and temporary accommodation, where necessary.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the IOM are working together to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained at various detention centres in Libya.
