Published : 03 May 2024.
The bodies of eight Bangladeshi migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to reach Europe from Libya have been returned to their families. The handover took place at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s morgue in the presence of Executive Magistrate Sayem Imran. These migrants were part of a group of 53 individuals, including 35 Bangladeshis, who embarked on a journey to Italy from Libya on February 14 aboard a precarious boat, seeking better opportunities with the aid of human traffickers. Tragically, the boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia, resulting in the deaths of eight Bangladeshis and one Pakistani.
The deceased individuals, identified as Mamun Sheikh, Sajal Boiragi, Nayan Biswas, Rifat Sheikh, Sajeeb Kazi, Imrul Kayes Apon, Md Kaiser, and Rasel Sheikh—five from Madaripur and three from Gopalganj—had their bodies repatriated on Thursday. Following their arrival, Sajal’s father, Sunil Boiragi, initiated legal proceedings against seven human traffickers and 15 others whose identities remain undisclosed.
Although the bodies were transferred without undergoing autopsies due to prior examinations conducted in Tunisia, they were scrutinized by an investigator, a magistrate, and a forensic doctor, along with reports from Tunisian authorities. Two suspects have been apprehended and are being interrogated as part of an ongoing investigation, with efforts underway to uncover the extent of involvement in this international trafficking network and ensure accountability.
Relatives of the deceased migrants expressed anguish, alleging that their loved ones fell victim to the cruelty of human traffickers. According to Mehedi Hasan, an uncle of Rasel, survivors recounted that the overcrowded boat, originally designed for 30 passengers, carried 52 individuals, resulting in chaos when it began to sink. Rasel, who had previously worked in Saudi Arabia and saved money for the journey to Europe, entrusted Tk 1.3 million to a smuggler known only as Sumon, whose whereabouts remain unknown. This has left the families grappling with the loss of their loved ones while the alleged perpetrator remains at large in Libya.