161 Bangladeshis return from Libya, Tunisia

A total of 161 stranded irregular Bangladeshi migrants have returned home from Libya and Tunisia.

A total of 143 returned home from Libya in a chartered Buraq Air flight (UZ 0222), which landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) at 6:15 am on Wednesday.

Before that 18 stranded Bangladeshi returned from Tunisia by a Turkish Airlines flight No-TK 712 that landed at HSIA at 5.25 am. 

The repatriation has taken place under the joint initiative of the foreign ministry, Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a foreign ministry’s press release said.

Upon arrival, the repatriated migrants were received by the officials of the foreign ministry and IOM at the airport.

The IOM provided Taka 5450 to individual repatriated from Tunisia and Taka 6,000 to each returnee from Libya as well as food supplies, medical assistance, and temporary accommodation, if required.

Most of the returnees had entered Libya and Tunisia illegally with the intention of reaching Europe by sea, influenced and aided by human traffickers.

Many of them had suffered abduction and abuse during their time in Libya, said the press release.