Awwal 23, 1432 H/Feb 26, 2011, SPA -- Families and relatives of Bangladeshi expatriates now trapped in Libya blocked a road near Dhaka on Saturday to demand their quick repatriation, Reuters quoted police as saying. "More than 1,000 people blocked a highway connecting the capital and the northeastern city of Sylhet for several hours," said a police officer at Bhairab, 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Dhaka. The protesters called upon the government to quickly bring the expatriate workers home, the police officer said. They dispersed after senior police officers assured them their message would be conveyed to the government. "Steps have been taken to rescue the trapped expatriate Bangladeshis from different locations in Libya," Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes told reporters in Dhaka. Some 1,500 Bangladeshis have already left Libya and taken refuge in neighbouring countries. No Bangladeshi casualties have been reported so far. More than 50,000 Bangladeshi workers are employed in different Libyan and international firms operating at different areas mainly in Bengazi, foreign ministry officials said. -- SPA
