On December 19, a total of 345 Bangladeshi nationals who had been stranded and held in various detention centers across Libya returned home. They were supported by the IOM in the voluntary return process.
The repatriation was carried out under the UN Migration Agency (IOM)'s voluntary return program, with the support of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya and Libyan local authorities.
On Friday morning (December 19), two Buraq Airlines flights carrying the repatriated migrants landed at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 10.30 am.
The Bangladeshi Embassy in Libya confirmed that of those on board, 249 had been held at the Tajoura detention center in Tripoli, while 96 had been kept in vulnerable conditions in Benghazi. They departed from Libya’s Mitiga Airport on Wednesday, December 17.
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IOM visit to Libya
During a visit to Libya, IOM Director General Amy Pope was present at the airport to oversee the repatriation process. She reportedly met some of the returnees and spoke with them about their well-being before they boarded the flight.
Earlier, Bangladesh's Ambassador to Libya, Major General Abul Hasnat Muhammad Khairul Bashar, visited the reception center of Libya’s immigration department to supervise the process and bid farewell to the migrants.
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Ambassador warns of dangers inherent in irregular migration
Warning against irregular migration, Bangladesh's ambassador said: "This path puts not only life but also dignity, time, and money at risk."
He emphasized regular migration, skills development, and safe migration as the only acceptable options.
Since June 2023, a total of 8,174 Bangladeshi nationals have been repatriated safely and with dignity under the joint program between the Bangladeshi embassy in Libya, the IOM and Libyan local authorities.