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A total of 168 Bangladeshi nationals detained at the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi, Libya, have been voluntarily repatriated to Bangladesh.
The repatriation was arranged through a joint initiative of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, with support from the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The Bangladeshis returned home on a Buraq Air flight (UZ-222), which landed in Bangladesh at 10:04am on Tuesday.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most of those repatriated had entered Libya after being lured and assisted by human traffickers with the intention of travelling illegally to Europe by sea.
Many of them reportedly faced abduction and torture at different times while in Libya.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant government agencies and the IOM welcomed the returnees at the airport.
The ministry urged the returnees to share their experiences in Libya with others to raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration.
The IOM provided each returnee with travel assistance, food supplies and basic medical care. Temporary accommodation will also be arranged if necessary.
The Bangladesh government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, is working with the IOM to safely repatriate Bangladeshi nationals detained at various detention centres in Libya.
