172 Bangladeshis detained in Libya return home

172 irregular Bangladeshi citizens detained in the Ganfuda detention center in Benghazi, Libya have been brought back home. They returned home on a special Buraq Air flight at 5:18 am today, Thursday (June 25). Their repatriation was completed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, and the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment in cooperation with the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration.
It is learned that most of the repatriated Bangladeshis entered Libya with the instigation and cooperation of human traffickers with the aim of illegally going to Europe by sea. Many of them are alleged to have been kidnapped and tortured at different times in Libya. Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, related ministries, and the International Organization for Migration welcomed the repatriated Bangladeshis at the airport.
In order to increase public awareness, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested everyone to share their tragic experience with everyone. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has provided travel expenses, some food, first aid and temporary accommodation to each repatriated person. It has been informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the International Organization for Migration will work jointly to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi citizens detained in various detention centers in Libya.