At least 10 youths from Sunamganj are reported to have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in a bid to reach Greece via Libya through a risky illegal route.
Citing survivors who were later rescued off the Greek coast, family members and locals said the victims died after enduring severe hardship, including a lack of food and water, adverse weather conditions, and prolonged time at sea.
Preliminary information suggests that five of the deceased were from Jagannathpur upazila, four from Derai upazila, and one from Dowarabazar upazila.
Family members and Union Parishad chairmen identified the victims as Aminur Rahman, Shayek Mia, Md Ali, Sohanur Rahman, and Mohammad Nayeem from Jagannathpur; Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna, Sahan Ehia, Sajidur Rahman, and Mujibur Rahman from Derai; and Abu Fahim from Dowarabazar.
Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Dr Mohammad Ileas Mia said, “We are learning about the deaths of migration seekers through local sources. Since they were not travelling through legal channels or authorised agencies, there is no official record.”
“We have instructed the concerned upazila nirbahi officers to identify affected families and document all relevant information. This will help in taking legal action against those involved in human trafficking,” he added.
According to an AFP report, 26 people — including 21 Bangladeshis — were rescued from the drifting boat. Survivors said the bodies of 22 people who died during the journey were thrown into the sea on the instructions of traffickers.
The boat departed on March 21 from Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, bound for Greece.