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A total of 176 Bangladeshi nationals held in a Libyan detention centre while trying to migrate to different countries in Europe, have returned home after their release.
They arrived at Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 9:45am on Thursday on a Buraq Airlines flight, reports bdnews24.com.
A message from the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya said it has been working closely with local authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained in various detention centres.
As a continuation of the process, 176 Bangladeshis were repatriated from the Tajura Detention Centre in Tripoli on Wednesday, with the assistance of the IOM.
Earlier, a delegation led by Ambassador Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar bid farewell to the returnees at the reception centre of the Directorate of Migration in Libya.
The ambassador urged the returnees to remain alert in future, highlighting the down side of illegal migration.
The ambassador also called on repatriated migrants to work to raise awareness about the risks of illegal migration in their respective areas.
The ambassador said, "Every citizen is a priceless asset of the country. By going abroad legally and safely and working with skill and integrity, expatriates not only improve the standard of living of their families but also enhance the reputation of the country."
The embassy's message said that it had previously issued travel permits to the detained migrants after meeting them and verifying their identities.
Later, with the approval of local authorities and the overall support of IOM, it was possible to repatriate them.