A total of 174 Bangladeshi nationals detained at two detention centres in Libya were repatriated to Bangladesh on Tuesday.

They arrived in Dhaka at 5:15am on July 7 aboard a Buraq Air flight, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry said the returnees had been held at the Ganfouda Detention Centre in Benghazi and the Tajoura Detention Centre in Tripoli. Their repatriation was carried out with the support of the Libyan government and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, and the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Most of the returnees had entered Libya after being lured by human traffickers while attempting to reach Europe through irregular sea routes, the ministry said. Many of them reportedly fell victim to abduction and abuse during their stay in Libya.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other relevant government agencies and the IOM received the returnees at the airport. The ministry also encouraged them to share their experiences to help raise public awareness about the dangers of irregular migration.

The IOM provided each returnee with travel assistance, food, primary healthcare and temporary accommodation where necessary.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will continue working with the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment and the IOM to ensure the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals detained at various detention centres across Libya.