29 Bangladeshis rescued from Mediterranean, 24 from Sylhet

The identities of 27 of the 29 Bangladeshi nationals who lost their way in the Mediterranean while travelling from Libya to Greece and eventually reached the coast of Marsa Matrouh in Egypt have been identified. Of them, 24 are from different districts of the Sylhet division.

The 27 rescued Bangladeshis are currently in good health and in the custody of Egyptian police. The other two Bangladeshis remain under treatment at Marsa Matrouh General Hospital.

Abdul Karim, a resident of Sunamganj who was rescued, said that nine other Bangladeshis on the boat died at sea and their bodies were thrown into the water.

According to sources, the migrants left the Tabuk area of Libya by boat for Greece on August 3 with the assistance of human traffickers. After entering the Mediterranean, the boat’s engine broke down, leaving it adrift and off course for 10 consecutive days. It eventually reached the coast of Marsa Matrouh, Egypt, on August 13.

At that time, local law enforcement authorities rescued the Bangladeshis, who were found ill and unconscious, from the boat and took them to hospital.

Among the 27 Bangladeshis in police custody, 24 are from four districts of the Sylhet division. The 12 from Sunamganj Sadar are Tayebur Rahman, Md Mahfuz Mia, Md Lohani Ahmed, Badr Uddin, Sohel Mia, Md Hossain Ahmed, Alim Uddin, Sabbir Hossain Talha, Enam Uddin, Abu Saeed Eayahia, Abdul Karim and Md Mamun Khan.

Also among them are Naim Ahmed from Dirai in Sunamganj; Saidul Islam, Md Hossain Mia, Arif Ahmed and Huzaifa Bin Hossain from Jagannathpur; and Tofayel Ahmed from Chhatak.

Others include Mostakin Bhuiyan from Habiganj Sadar, Sohel Mia and Riaz Uddin Ahmed from Ajmiriganj, Tanvir Hossain from Gowainghat in Sylhet district, and Raju Mia and Nazrul Islam from Beanibazar.

The three Bangladeshis from outside the Sylhet division are Md Faruk of Madaripur, Saimon Mia of Austagram in Kishoreganj, and Maharam Ali of Bhairab. The identities of the two Bangladeshis undergoing treatment at the hospital have yet to be confirmed.

Md Zakir Hossain, First Secretary (Labour) at the Bangladesh Embassy in Egypt, said the boat that left the Tabuk area of Libya on August 3 lost its way while crossing the Mediterranean. It reached the Marsa Matrouh coast on August 13, after which the ill and unconscious Bangladeshis were rescued and admitted to hospital.

He said 27 of them have recovered following treatment and are currently being held at a temporary detention facility attached to the Marsa Matrouh police station.

Zakir Hossain said the identities of the two Bangladeshis still receiving treatment at the hospital could not yet be confirmed. However, the embassy has collected photographs and addresses of the 27 Bangladeshis in police custody from the local authorities.

Mehedi Hasan, from Austagram in Kishoreganj and son of Md Sabu Mia, died while receiving treatment at Marsa Matrouh General Hospital. Later, on the afternoon of August 16, another Bangladeshi national’s body was recovered from the same coastal area. Both bodies are currently being kept in the morgue of Marsa Matrouh General Hospital.

The embassy official said it is important to interview the surviving passengers to identify the bodies and verify the names, identities and addresses of the nine Bangladeshis still missing at sea. A request has already been made to the relevant authorities for permission to conduct the interviews.

Meanwhile, two national identity cards (NIDs) bearing the names of Shamim Ahmed and Habib Ullah, along with three passports belonging to Hriday Pal, Md Habib Ullah and Nur Alam, were found abandoned on the boat.

Zakir Hossain said that, in accordance with Egyptian law, the necessary legal procedures concerning the 27 Bangladeshis in custody will be completed following decisions by the relevant court and prosecution authorities. The identities of the two bodies kept in the morgue will also be confirmed and their families contacted.

He added that, once the legal procedures are completed, necessary arrangements will be made to repatriate the detained Bangladeshis as soon as possible and hand over the bodies to their families.