Immigration police and airport sources said that on Wednesday (November 11) at 9:15 am, 44 Bangladeshis landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on flight N05542. At the airport, they were provided emergency assistance, psychological counseling and financial assistance to return to their respective homes. These activities were carried out by BRAC's Migration Programme in cooperation with Civil Aviation Security and the Expatriates' Welfare Desk. Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Expatriates' Welfare Desk were also present at the time.

Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC's Migration Programme and Youth Platform, said all the returnees were given food and financial assistance under the Prottasha-2 project, jointly funded by the European Union (EU) and BRAC. Later, after counseling and training, they will also be given economic assistance.

He said that by crossing the Mediterranean from Libya, Bangladeshis are now at the top in entering Greece as well as Italy, and deaths frequently occur on this route. Europe is becoming stricter day by day against irregular migration; under the new policy, those entering through irregular routes are being sent back home quickly and asylum applications are being rejected. As a result, even after spending Tk 30 to 40 lakh, the final outcome is zero.

Shariful Hasan further said that among those who returned this time, there is even a person who encouraged others on TikTok to go to Europe through irregular routes. He therefore called for avoiding risky sea routes and going abroad through legal channels by acquiring skills.