174 irregular Bangladeshis return home from Libya on special flight, welcomed at airport with IOM support
A total of 174 irregular Bangladeshi nationals who wished to return home voluntarily have been brought back from Libya. They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday (October 27) at 5:40am on a Buraq Air flight.
The repatriation was carried out through a coordinated initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, with cooperation from the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Most of those who returned had entered Libya at the instigation and with the help of human traffickers, intending to travel illegally to Europe by sea. After reaching Libya, many of them were at various times abducted and physically tortured by local criminal gangs, according to serious allegations.
After they reached the airport in the morning, senior officials of the Foreign Ministry, other relevant ministries and the IOM welcomed the returning Bangladeshis.
The Foreign Ministry specially requested them to share their harrowing experiences and the horrors they faced in Libya with people in their own areas. The request was made to raise public awareness.
The IOM gave each repatriated national travel money, some food items and primary medical care. Temporary shelter has also been arranged for those who need it.
The Foreign Ministry, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the IOM are working together to safely repatriate Bangladeshi nationals detained in various detention centres in Libya, it was stated.
