21 Bangladeshis rescued in Mediterranean

At least 21 Bangladeshis were rescued after drifting for six days in the Mediterranean Sea, following a failed attempt to reach Greece from Libya on Friday night ( March 27).

According to BBC reports, a total of 26 migrants were rescued by the European coastguard late Friday near the island of Crete. Survivors said at least 22 people died during the journey due to severe shortages of food and water.

The rescued group includes 21 Bangladeshis, four South Sudanese nationals, and one Chadian citizen. Among them are a woman and a child.

Survivors reported that the boat had departed from the eastern Libyan port city of Tobruk on March 21, heading towards Greece. However, it lost direction and remained stranded at sea without food or water for nearly a week. During the ordeal, bodies of at least 22 victims were reportedly thrown overboard.

Greek authorities have arrested two South Sudanese nationals, aged 19 and 22, on suspicion of human trafficking.

A coastguard spokesperson said the vessel was located about 53 nautical miles south of Ierapetra, in southern Crete, amid harsh weather conditions that worsened the situation.

According to the International Organization for Migration, migrant deaths in the Mediterranean have sharply increased. In January and February 2026 alone, at least 559 people died while attempting to reach Europe, compared to 287 during the same period last year.

In a similar incident last December, 17 migrant bodies were recovered from a sinking boat southwest of Crete, with only two survivors found.