A total of 170 irregular Bangladeshi migrants wishing to return home were repatriated from Libya today (18 November), with assistance from the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
They arrived in Dhaka at 6:10am on a chartered flight operated by Buraq Air, whereupon officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant ministries, and IOM received them at the airport.
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Libya and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment facilitated their travel.
Most of the returnees had reportedly entered Libya illegally, encouraged and assisted by human traffickers, with the intention of travelling to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.
Many of them alleged that they had been kidnapped and tortured at various times while in Libya.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the returnees to share their experiences widely to help raise public awareness.
Meanwhile, the IOM provided each of them with travel allowances, food supplies, and basic medical assistance.