Only IOM to repatriate Bangladeshis in Libya

The cabinet committee on economic affairs at a meeting yesterday approved appointment of International Organization for Migration (IOM) as the single agency for repatriating Bangladeshi migrants fleeing conflict-torn Libya.
The approval came upon an application from expatriates' welfare ministry saying there is a provision under Public Procurement Rules-2008 of appointing a single agency for jobs under emergency situation.
Starting from March, IOM, in coordination with the government, repatriated over 30,000 Bangladeshis who took shelter in Egypt and Tunisia, while Bangladesh Biman and respective employers repatriated nearly 6,000.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith chaired the meeting at the Secretariat in the city.
On the government's request, World Bank agreed to lend Bangladesh US $40 million, of which the government will pay IOM US $12.6 million as repatriation cost of 10,000 Bangladeshis and US $775 to each Libya returnee as grant.
IOM in coordination with Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment is preparing the procedures to disburse the grant to returnees. Many returned empty handed and are indebted, the returnees said.
"We can start disbursing the money after a month," a spokesperson of IOM told The Daily Star.