Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Aug 21, 2025 (BSS) - A total of 175 irregular Bangladeshi nationals 
were brought back home from Libya today through a coordinated effort of the 
government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The returnees, who had been residing in Libya without legal status, arrived 
at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 6:15 am on a special 
flight of Buraq Air from Benghazi, said a foreign ministry's press release 
here. 

Most of the returnees had entered Libya through human traffickers who lured 
them with false promises of migrating to Europe by sea, it said.

Many of them had endured abduction, torture and exploitation while in Libya.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' 
Welfare and Overseas Employment and the IOM received the returnees at the 
airport. 

The officials urged them to share their painful experiences with others in 
order to raise awareness against the dangers of irregular migration.

Each of the returnees was provided with travel allowances, food items, basic 
healthcare services and temporary shelter support by the IOM.

The foreign ministry said it has been working in close coordination with the 
Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the expatriates' welfare ministry and the IOM to 
ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshis held in detention centers in 
Libya.

"Bangladesh remains committed to protecting its citizens abroad and will 
continue to take all possible steps, in cooperation with international 
partners, to combat human trafficking and irregular migration," said the 
release.