An important joint meeting was held on March 17, 2025, under the chairmanship of the country’s Interior Minister, Major General Emad Mustafa Al-Tarablousi, to address the illegal migration crisis in Libya. Ambassadors of various countries and heads of international organizations participated in the meeting. A delegation from the Bangladesh Embassy led by the Honorable Ambassador of Bangladesh to Libya, Major General Abul Hasnat Muhammad Khairul Bashar, was present at the meeting.
At the meeting, the Libyan Interior Minister said that the number of illegal migration has increased at an alarming rate in recent times, which has caused severe dissatisfaction and concern among the local people. He said that this has also become a major challenge for Libya’s national security and economy. To resolve this crisis, the Libyan government has taken a plan to strengthen border security, repatriate illegal migrants and conduct strict operations against human trafficking gangs. He sought the cooperation of all concerned countries in this regard.
At the meeting, the Bangladesh Ambassador expressed deep sympathy for the illegal migration crisis in Libya and noted that Bangladesh has always encouraged safe, orderly and regular migration. He said that currently a significant number of Bangladeshi professionals in Libya are making important contributions in various service and development sectors.
He also said that as Libya is currently considered an important transit country for migrants heading to Europe, a number of Bangladeshi citizens are entering Libya irregularly, tempted by local and international human trafficking rings. The Bangladesh Embassy is providing all-out support for the speedy repatriation of these irregular migrants.
The Ambassador drew the attention of the Libyan Ministry of Home Affairs and said that recently, incidents of kidnapping and torture for ransom of Bangladeshi citizens have been taking place in various cities of Libya, including Tripoli. He called for urgent intervention and effective measures by the Libyan government to stop the kidnapping of Bangladeshi citizens. In addition, he requested to simplify the ‘Khuruj Nihay’ (one-stop service) process to facilitate the repatriation process of irregular migrants.
He also said that necessary steps should be taken to stop the unwanted detention of Bangladeshis working in Libya. In addition, he requested to arrange for expeditious visits to Bangladeshis detained in various detention centers in Libya, especially Bir Al-Ghanem Detention Center.
In the meeting, the Ambassador reiterated the commitment of the Bangladesh Embassy to work closely with the Libyan government to address the challenges posed by irregular migration and human trafficking in Libya. He expressed his sincere gratitude for the continued cooperation of the Libyan government in ensuring the safe repatriation of Bangladeshi migrants. At the same time, he pledged to continue the effective cooperation of the Embassy with law enforcement agencies to prevent human trafficking.
