175 Bangladeshi Migrants to Return from Libya

A total of 175 Bangladeshi nationals are scheduled to return home from Libya on Wednesday, as part of a coordinated repatriation effort facilitated by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Tripoli and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The returnees will travel on a Burak Air flight and are expected to arrive in Dhaka the same day.

According to the Bangladeshi Embassy in Libya, the group consists of migrants who had been held in detention centres across the country. Of them, 113 individuals were detained at the Tajoura Detention Centre in Tripoli, while a further 62 were held at the Ganfuda Detention Centre in Benghazi. Among the returnees, at least 14 were reported to be suffering from various health complications.

Breakdown of returnees by detention centre

The repatriation operation is being conducted under the supervision of Bangladeshi diplomatic officials in Libya, with close coordination from local authorities and the IOM. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Libya, Major General Md Habib Ullah, personally oversaw the departure process at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli and bid farewell to the migrants leaving from the Tajoura facility. Officials from the embassy, including the First Secretary (Labour) Md Russell Mia, were also present during the operation.

The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Libyan authorities and the IOM for their continued cooperation in facilitating the safe return of Bangladeshi nationals detained in various centres across the country. He also voiced hope that such collaborative efforts would continue in future humanitarian repatriation exercises.

During the farewell interaction, the Ambassador spoke directly with several of the migrants, listening to accounts of hardship endured during their time in Libya. Many of the returnees described being trafficked into the country through irregular channels and subsequently falling victim to exploitation by human trafficking networks.

Accounts of hardship and exploitation

Returnees recounted severe suffering, including physical abuse, extortion, and prolonged detention under harsh conditions. Several individuals alleged that they had been held hostage by trafficking syndicates demanding ransom payments. Others described shortages of food and drinking water, lack of medical care, and unsafe living conditions in detention facilities.

Many migrants also revealed that they had incurred significant financial losses in pursuit of overseas employment opportunities, with some reportedly selling land and property in Bangladesh and spending sums approaching half a million taka in total migration-related costs.

The emotional toll of these accounts reportedly created a deeply distressing atmosphere during the interaction with embassy officials.

Ambassador urges caution and safe migration

Major General Habib Ullah reassured the migrants, urging them to return home and rebuild their lives with renewed determination. Referring to recent maritime tragedies involving irregular migration routes, he noted that returning alive, despite hardships, should be seen as a form of relief and survival.

He strongly advised against undertaking dangerous and irregular migration journeys in the future, urging returnees to share their experiences within their local communities to raise awareness about the risks involved.

He emphasised that irregular migration not only devastates individuals and families financially and emotionally but also has long-term social and national consequences.

The Ambassador also reiterated the importance of pursuing legal and safe migration channels, advising prospective migrants to rely only on verified government-approved procedures, avoid fraudulent intermediaries, and carefully verify all employment-related information before travelling abroad.

He further encouraged returnees to take advantage of government and non-government reintegration and employment support programmes aimed at helping them rebuild livelihoods upon return.

Ongoing repatriation efforts

The Bangladeshi Embassy in Libya stated that it continues to work actively on the voluntary return of Bangladeshi nationals detained in various centres across the country. These efforts are being carried out in close coordination with the Government of Libya, the International Organization for Migration, and other relevant agencies.

Officials reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of vulnerable migrants, while also strengthening awareness campaigns to discourage unsafe migration routes in the future.