310 more Bangladeshis repatriated from Libya

A total of 310 Bangladeshi nationals who had been staying illegally in Libya returned home on Friday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

They arrived in Dhaka at 10 AM on a chartered flight, as part of a coordinated repatriation effort involving Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the foreign ministry, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Libyan authorities and International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Officials said most of the returnees had travelled to Libya irregularly, lured by traffickers with promises of reaching Europe by sea.

Many reported being abducted and tortured at different points during their stay in the North African country.

Senior officials from the foreign ministry, other relevant government agencies, and IOM received the returnees at the airport.

The foreign ministry urged them to share their experiences to help raise awareness and prevent others from falling victim to human trafficking.

Upon arrival, IOM provided travel allowances, food and basic medical support.

The ministry also said that Bangladeshi authorities; together with the embassy in Libya, Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry and IOM, are continuing efforts to repatriate other Bangladeshis currently held in various Libyan detention centres.