A total of 165 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated from Libya with the assistance of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

They returned to Bangladesh at 5:30am on Friday on a Buraq Air flight.

Of the returnees, 143 had been detained at the Ganfouda Detention Centre in Benghazi, while the remaining 22 were distressed, vulnerable and physically ill Bangladeshis who had been living in Benghazi and nearby areas and expressed willingness to return home voluntarily.

According to officials, most of the repatriated migrants had entered Libya irregularly after being lured and assisted by human traffickers while attempting to reach Europe illegally by sea.

Many of them also alleged that they had been kidnapped and subjected to torture at different times in Libya.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other relevant ministries and the International Organization for Migration received the returnees at the airport.

To raise public awareness, the Foreign Ministry requested the returnees to share their difficult experiences with others.

The International Organization for Migration provided each returnee with travel allowances, food items, primary medical care and temporary accommodation where necessary.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the International Organization for Migration are continuing to work together to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained at various detention centres in Libya, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.