Diplomatic Correspondent; Dbarta24- A group of 168 Bangladeshi nationals, who were held in Ganfouda Detention Center in Benghazi, Libya, returned home on Tuesday morning following a coordinated international repatriation effort.
A chartered Buraq Air flight (UZ-222) carrying the irregular migrants landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 10:04 AM.
The operation was facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, in collaboration with the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
According to officials, the majority of the returnees entered Libya illegally through human trafficking networks with the ultimate goal of reaching Europe by sea. During their time in transit, many fell victim to extortion, kidnapping, and physical abuse at the hands of traffickers.
Officials from the Foreign Ministry, relevant government agencies, and the IOM received the returnees upon arrival in Dhaka. Foreign Ministry representatives encouraged the individuals to share their harrowing experiences publicly to raise awareness about the severe risks associated with illegal human trafficking routes.
To assist with their immediate transition, the IOM provided each returnee with pocket money, emergency food supplies, basic medical aid, and temporary shelter support where necessary.
Government officials reaffirmed that the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the IOM are continuing joint efforts to identify, rescue, and safely repatriate remaining Bangladeshi nationals currently held across various detention facilities in Libya.