DHAKA, 5 May, 2021 (TON): At least 160 Bangladeshi migrants who were stranded in Libya returned home on Wednesday under a UN arrangement. 

A chartered flight arranged by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) brought them to the international airport in the capital Dhaka, said Sariful Islam, the agency's spokesman. 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nation’s (UN) migration agency has facilitated the safe return of Bangladeshi migrants through its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program.  

IOM assisted with the safe return of these migrants in coordination with the Embassy of Bangladesh in Libya, said a press release, adding that the body of one Bangladeshi national who died in Libya was also repatriated on this flight. 

Prior to departure, the returnees underwent health checks, were offered pre-departure transportation assistance, counselling services and screened for underlying protection vulnerabilities by IOM.  

Given the current Covid-19 situation, all returnees were also provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and took a Covid-test (PCR) prior to departure. 

Government and IOM officials and staff in Dhaka provided food, health screenings, psychosocial support, information and cash assistance for onward travel from the airport to home. 

The returnees will each receive a reintegration grant from IOM.  

The Bangladesh government has since been working with IOM to gradually bring back the Bangladeshis stranded in Libya. A total of 1,379 migrants have so far flown home from Libya on nine chartered flights.