2,330 Bangladeshis return from Libya

IOM has brought back 2,330 Bangladeshis from the Egyptian and Tunisian borders in 11 flights from 6am to 9pm Wednesday, report agencies. Six flights were from Egyptian borders and five flights were from Tunisian borders. With today's figures, IOM has brought back 4,736 Bangladeshis affected by the Libyan crisis. On March 10, IOM is bringing back another 1,654. The body of the deceased Bangladeshi migrant is also expected to return today (Thursday). IOM staff is working round the clock everyday in Cairo and Mersah Matruh in Egypt, Djerba in Tunisia and in Dhaka to expedite the return of the rest of the stranded Bangladeshis. "We expect to bring back most of the stranded Bangladeshis from the two borders in the next two weeks," said Rabab Fatima, regional representative of IOM in Dhaka. Meanwhile, report from Ras Lanuf adds, huge blasts rocked the Libyan rebel-held oil town of Ras Lanuf Wednesday, sending flames leaping hundreds of metres into the sky, as fighting raged with government troops. A series of powerful explosions went off near an oil facility as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi rained artillery shells on rebel positions five kilometres (three miles) west of the town. Muammar Gaddafi has said his people will take up arms if a no-fly zone is imposed by Western nations or the UN, as many of the rebels have been calling for. In an interview with Turkish TV, he said a no-fly zone would show the true intention was to seize Libya's oil. The US has said any decision on a no-fly zone over Libya rests with the UN. More than 1,000 people are believed to have died since the uprising to end Col Gaddafi's 41 years in power began in mid-February. Senior Libyan official Abdelrahman al-Zawi, a member of embattled leader Moamer Gaddafi's inner circle, landed in Cairo Wednesday, an airport official said.