A total of 172 irregular Bangladeshi migrants detained at the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi, Libya, were repatriated to Bangladesh early Thursday.

The returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:18 am on a special flight operated by Buraq Air.

The repatriation was carried out with the support of the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), through the coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

According to officials, most of the returnees had entered Libya illegally with the intention of reaching Europe by sea after being lured and assisted by human traffickers. Many of them reportedly fell victim to abduction and torture at different times during their stay in Libya.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other relevant ministries and the IOM received the returnees at the airport.

The Foreign Ministry urged the repatriated migrants to share their harrowing experiences with others to raise public awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking.

The IOM provided each returnee with travel allowances, food assistance, 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 IOM are continuing their joint efforts to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained in various detention centres across Libya.