174 Bangladeshis repatriated from Libya

Another 174 Bangladeshi nationals have returned home after being held in various detention centres in Libya. The repatriation was carried out safely and humanely from the Ganfouda detention centre in Benghazi through the initiative of the Bangladesh embassy and with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday morning on a Burak Air flight from Libya. Among them are three women, one child and 15 sick individuals.

It is known that these Bangladeshis had attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea irregularly in search of a better life. They were intercepted or detained during their journey and spent a long time in inhumane conditions at the Ganfouda detention centre.

The Bangladesh embassy has been coordinating with local authorities and IOM to repatriate detained Bangladeshi nationals. The latest repatriation of 174 individuals was made possible with approval from local authorities and cooperation from IOM.

The embassy is conducting regular interviews, identity verification and repatriation activities for Bangladeshis held in the Ganfouda and Tajoura detention centres. Efforts to repatriate remaining Bangladeshis are ongoing.

Earlier, on August 7, 340 Bangladeshis had returned from Libya. With this latest group, a total of 514 Bangladeshis have been repatriated this month.

The embassy has urged all to avoid falling for brokers and traffickers and to follow legal and safe migration pathways.