10 from Sunamganj die at sea while trying to reach Europe

At least 22 migrants have died in a horrific humanitarian disaster while trying to reach Greece by sea from Libya in North Africa. Among the deceased are at least 10 Bangladeshis from three upazilas of Sunamganj district, their relatives have confirmed. They are said to have died after suffering from a long-term shortage of food and clean water.

According to local sources, four people from Dirai upazila of Sunamganj, one from Doarabazar and five from Jagannathpur upazila lost their lives in the incident. The deceased from Dirai upazila are Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna, 30, Sajidur Rahman, 28, Shahan Mia, 25, and Mujibur Rahman, 38, of Tarapasha village. Abu Fahim of Kabirnagar village of Doarabazar and Sohanur Rahman, Shaykh Ahmed, Md. Nayeem, Aminur Rahman and Mohammad Ali from various villages of Jagannathpur upazila are also on the list of deceased.

The survivors who were on the same boat said that many of them fell ill due to severe lack of food and water while floating at sea for several days and eventually died. Later, the bodies were thrown into the sea on the orders of the smugglers.

Relatives claim that a deal was made to take them to Greece via Libya for about 1.2 million taka per person. Although they were promised a safe and large boat, they were eventually taken on a small and risky boat. When the news of this incident spread, a shadow of mourning fell on the area.

Meanwhile, locals have demanded the immediate repatriation of the bodies of the deceased and exemplary punishment for the human traffickers involved. The Dirai Upazila Executive Officer said that the matter could not be fully confirmed as the families have not yet received official communication, but such information has been received locally.

According to the international news agency, the migrants set off on a rubber boat from the Tobruk port in eastern Libya on March 21. The boat sank in rough weather off the Greek island of Crete after being adrift for nearly six days.

The Greek Coast Guard said it had rescued 26 people, including a woman and a child, alive. Among those rescued were 21 Bangladeshis, four South Sudanese and one Chadian. Two of the sick were hospitalized.

Greek authorities have detained two South Sudanese nationals in connection with the incident, suspected of being involved in human trafficking. An investigation is underway into the incident.