Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Dec 1, 2025 (BSS) - A total of 173 Bangladeshi nationals, who had 
voluntarily sought repatriation from Libya, were brought back to Dhaka early 
today through coordinated efforts of the foreign ministry, Bangladesh embassy 
in Tripoli and the expatriates' welfare ministry.

The returnees arrived at 6:00am on a chartered Buraq Air flight with support 
from the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration 
(IOM), a foreign ministry press release said. 

According to official information, most of the repatriated Bangladeshis had 
illegally entered Libya with the intention of reaching Europe through the 
Mediterranean Sea, allegedly under the influence and assistance of human 
traffickers. Many of them claimed they had been subjected to kidnapping and 
torture at different times inside Libya.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Expatriates' 
Welfare and Overseas Employment, and IOM received the returnees at Hazrat 
Shahjalal International Airport.

To raise awareness against irregular migration, the foreign ministry 
requested the returnees to share their harrowing experiences with others so 
that potential migrants can better understand the risks involved.

IOM provided each returnee with travel allowances, food items, and basic 
medical support upon arrival.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the 
expatriates' welfare ministry and IOM are continuing joint efforts to safely 
repatriate Bangladeshi nationals who remain detained across various Libyan 
detention centres.