Dhaka:A total of 172 irregular Bangladeshi migrants, many of whom reportedly endured abduction and torture while attempting to reach Europe through Libya, returned home early today under a voluntary repatriation program.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka at 451 am aboard a special Buraq Air flight (UZ-222) from Misrata, Libya, as per a foreign ministry press release.
The repatriation was jointly facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, and 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 returning Bangladeshis at the airport.
The ministry noted that most returnees had entered Libya with the encouragement and assistance of human traffickers, hoping to reach Europe illegally by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Many of them reportedly fell victim to abduction and torture during their stay in the North African country. The foreign ministry urged the returnees to share their harrowing experiences to raise public awareness about the dangers of human trafficking and irregular migration.
As part of the 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 continuing efforts to bring home Bangladeshis stranded in Libya, particularly those held in detention centers or facing vulnerable circumstances.
The foreign ministry, Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and IOM have been working closely to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Bangladeshi nationals from the country. The release stated that coordinated efforts would continue to facilitate the repatriation of Bangladeshis detained in different facilities across Libya.