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DHAKA: A total of 172 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants returned home from Libya early Thursday under a voluntary repatriation programme, with many reportedly having experienced abduction and torture while attempting to reach Europe illegally.
The returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 4:51am aboard a special Buraq Air flight, UZ-222, from Misrata, Libya, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The repatriation was jointly facilitated by the 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).
Officials from the foreign ministry, other relevant ministries and the IOM received the returnees at the airport.
According to the foreign ministry, most of the migrants had travelled to Libya with the encouragement and assistance of human traffickers, hoping to reach Europe illegally by crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
Many reportedly fell victim to abduction and torture at different stages of their stay in the North African country.
The ministry urged the returnees to share their experiences with others to raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking and irregular migration.
Their firsthand accounts of exploitation and suffering could help discourage others from taking perilous journeys through illegal migration routes, the ministry said.
As part of its reintegration assistance, the IOM provided each returnee with transportation support, food supplies and primary medical care, along with temporary accommodation where necessary.
The latest repatriation is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to bring home Bangladeshis stranded in Libya, particularly those held in detention centres or facing vulnerable circumstances.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the IOM have been working together to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of Bangladeshi nationals.
The foreign ministry said coordinated efforts would continue to repatriate Bangladeshis detained in different facilities across Libya.
