Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The Libyan police detained around 300 undocumented Bangladeshis, including two unauthorized manpower-brokers, at Benghazi on August 3 and 4, Ahsan Kibria Siddiqui, first secretary (labour) of Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli, said.
Mr. Siddiqui said he had asked the Libyan authorities to be sympathetic to the workers and the authorities had told him that they would release the detainees when they find employers for them.
The official, however, said he was not yet sure about what the authorities would decide for the two Bangladeshi brokers, Rajib and Babul, The Daily Star, a local newspaper, reported.
In late May, the Libyan immigration authorities deported around 200 Bangladeshi workers soon as they landed at Tripoli Airport, claiming that their visas were fake.
However, rejecting the claim, the expatriate welfare ministry of Bangladesh said Libyan embassy authenticated the visas.
At that time, Bangladesh decided not to send workers for the time being. However, within a few weeks it allowed sending workers in the North African country.
Around 36,000 Bangladeshis were repatriated from Libya during its nine-month civil war. The new recruitment started after the war ended late last year.
BBN/SSR/AD-10Aug12-12:20 am (BST)
