Play store
Another 340 Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Libya and willing to return voluntarily have been repatriated to Bangladesh.
They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around noon on Friday (August 7) on Fly Oya Airlines flight YI5040.
The repatriation was arranged under the supervision of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, with overall cooperation and assistance from Libya’s Government of National Unity.
As part of the process, Bangladeshi nationals seeking repatriation were transferred from the Bangladesh Embassy premises to a government reception centre in Tripoli on August 5 under arrangements by the Libyan government. The embassy provided them with necessary assistance and coordination.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Libya Major General Md Habib Ullah met the returnees at the embassy and the government reception centre and saw them off. He also inquired about their experiences and overall situation.
Many of the Bangladeshis expressed gratitude to the ambassador and the embassy for helping them return home after prolonged waiting and difficult circumstances.
Embassy officials, including the counsellor (labour) and first secretary (labour), were present during the process. Embassy officials also remained at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli to provide necessary assistance to the returnees and ensure a smooth repatriation.
During a pre-departure briefing, Ambassador Habib Ullah said the Bangladesh Embassy had been working for a long time to ensure the safe and voluntary repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals in distress.
He said the embassy had continued regular meetings and close coordination with Libya’s Interior Ministry and other relevant authorities to facilitate the process.
The ambassador expressed deep gratitude to the Libyan government for its humanitarian assistance in the voluntary repatriation programme. He said Libya’s priority in facilitating the return of distressed Bangladeshis reflected the friendly relations between the two countries.
Urging the returnees to start their lives afresh after returning home, he advised them to ignore negative comments or social stigma and move forward with confidence and support from their families.
He also called on the returnees to help raise awareness about the risks of illegal migration and human trafficking so that others do not fall victim to brokers and suffer similar hardships.
During his farewell, the ambassador held discussions with senior officials of various Libyan agencies and thanked the Government of National Unity, particularly the Interior Ministry and other relevant authorities, for their cooperation.
He said the successful completion of the humanitarian repatriation programme was the result of joint efforts and close coordination between the Bangladesh Embassy and Libya’s Interior Ministry.
The ambassador expressed hope that Libya would continue to cooperate in repatriating Bangladeshi nationals who are in distress or wish to return home voluntarily.
