A total of 340 distressed Bangladeshi nationals who had sought voluntary repatriation from Libya returned home on Friday, bringing the number of Bangladeshis repatriated from the North African country this year to 1,540.

The returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 12:00 pm aboard a special Fly Oya Airways flight (YI5040).

The humanitarian repatriation was coordinated by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Libya with the support of Libya’s Government of National Unity. Prior to their departure, the Bangladeshis were transferred on August 5 from the embassy premises to a government reception centre in Tripoli, where they received the necessary assistance and logistical support.

Before the flight, Bangladesh Ambassador to Libya Major General Md. Habib Ullah met the returnees at both the embassy and the reception centre. He inquired about their well-being and encouraged them to begin a new chapter in their lives with confidence upon returning home.

Many of the repatriated migrants expressed gratitude to the ambassador and the Bangladesh Embassy after finally being able to return home following months of hardship and uncertainty. Labour Wing officials, including the Counsellor (Labour), First Secretary (Labour), and other embassy personnel, were present during the repatriation process. Embassy officials also assisted the passengers at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli before departure.

During a pre-departure briefing, Ambassador Habib Ullah said the Bangladesh Embassy has been working continuously to ensure the safe and voluntary return of distressed Bangladeshi nationals stranded in Libya. He noted that the mission has maintained close coordination with Libya’s Ministry of Interior and other relevant authorities to facilitate the repatriation programme.

The ambassador thanked the Libyan government for its humanitarian cooperation, describing the assistance as a reflection of the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Libya.

He urged the returnees not to be discouraged by negative social attitudes but instead to rebuild their lives with the support of their families and renewed self-confidence. He also called on them to raise public awareness about the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking so that others do not fall victim to the same ordeal.

Emphasising the need for stronger action against trafficking networks, the ambassador urged authorities to intensify efforts to dismantle human trafficking syndicates and prevent prospective migrants from being deceived by brokers offering false promises of employment or passage to Europe.

He expressed hope that the continued cooperation between the Bangladesh Embassy and the Libyan authorities would enable more distressed Bangladeshi nationals wishing to return home voluntarily to be repatriated safely in the coming months.

According to official records, 1,540 Bangladeshi nationals have now been repatriated from Libya in 2026 under government-facilitated voluntary return programmes, reflecting ongoing efforts to rescue vulnerable migrants and combat irregular migration.