Bangladeshis alerted in Libya

The Bangladesh mission in Tripoli has asked Bangladeshis to limit their movements outside their residences, urging not to go out at night and carry documents to avoid any untoward situation amid the rise of violence in the North African country.

The warning, over "the necessity of ensuring self-security", came on January 12 after the Tripoli-based government on January 7 announced a state of alert in the capital and some other cities, according to a post on the mission's Facebook page. The Libyan law enforcers have started collecting information about foreigners and increased monitoring on them, it mentions.

Meanwhile, six Bangladeshis confined by kidnappers in Tripoli's Abu Salim area were rescued on December 29 last year with the assistance of Libya's Special Deterrence Force, according to another Facebook post of the mission.

The victims told the embassy officials that they were taken there by a Libyan promising jobs, it says, adding that a Bangladeshi and a Libyan were arrested in this connection.

The embassy requested Bangladeshis to be cautious before going in search of work with any unknown person as foreigners were being targeted. On emergency cases, the migrants have been urged to carry their passports, medical certificates cards and identity cards provided by employers, it says.

Bangladeshis facing any untoward situation are advised to contact the embassy's hotline number +218-916994207.

Around 40,000 to 50,000 Bangladeshis are working at different sectors in Libya. The government has banned migration of Bangladeshis to the war and conflict-torn African country since August due to clashes among different groups.