A total of 170 irregular Bangladeshi migrants were repatriated from the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi on Monday as part of ongoing efforts to return foreign nationals stranded in detention centres across Libya.
According to a statement, the repatriation operation was coordinated with the support of the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Libyan authorities, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Officials said the migrants arrived in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka at approximately 8:35 a.m. aboard a Buraq Air flight departing from Benghazi.
Most of the returnees had reportedly entered Libya illegally through smuggling networks while attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. Several migrants were allegedly subjected to kidnapping, torture, and severe abuse during their stay in Libya, according to officials involved in the repatriation process.
Representatives from Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry, other government institutions, and the IOM received the migrants upon arrival at the airport. Authorities urged the returnees to publicly share their experiences in order to raise awareness about the dangers of irregular migration routes through Libya and discourage others from attempting similar journeys.
The IOM said it provided humanitarian assistance to the returnees, including transport support, food supplies, primary medical services, and temporary accommodation where necessary.
Libya remains one of the main transit countries for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean toward Europe. Human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks continue to operate across the country, particularly in southern border regions and coastal areas.
International organisations and human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over conditions faced by migrants in Libya, including arbitrary detention, abuse, forced labour, and extortion by armed groups and trafficking networks.
The Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said cooperation with Libyan authorities and international organisations would continue to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals currently held in detention centres throughout Libya.
Libyan authorities and international agencies have intensified deportation and voluntary return programmes in recent months as part of broader efforts to address irregular migration and human trafficking across the region.
