A total of 309 Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Libya have been repatriated to Bangladesh through a special chartered flight, in a coordinated effort involving the Government of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli.
The returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 9:00 am on a Fly Oya International flight, jointly facilitated by the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and the IOM, according to an official statement.
Most of the migrants had entered Libya illegally through human traffickers, lured by false promises of travelling to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Many later endured kidnapping, torture, and harsh conditions at the hands of trafficking networks and armed groups operating inside Libya.
Officials from relevant ministries and IOM representatives were present at the airport to receive and support the returnees, providing them with travel allowances, food, and immediate medical assistance upon arrival. The return programme forms part of a broader humanitarian initiative aimed at ensuring the safe and dignified return of irregular migrants stranded abroad.
Bangladeshi authorities urged the returnees to share their stories to raise awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and the exploitation linked to human trafficking.
The Bangladesh government, in coordination with the IOM and Libyan authorities, continues to work towards repatriating remaining Bangladeshi nationals from Libyan detention centres. Efforts are also underway to strengthen preventive measures against human trafficking and to promote safe and legal migration channels for Bangladeshi workers abroad.
