The migrants were left drifting at sea for six days without sufficient food or water and eventually lost direction.
Representational photo. Photo: Reuters
“>
Representational photo. Photo: Reuters
At least four migrants from Sunamganj’s Derai upazila are among a group of Bangladeshis feared dead in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to reach Greece from North Africa in a rubber boat.
Greek authorities said on Friday (27 March) that a vessel operated by Frontex, the European Union’s border and coast guard agency, rescued 26 people from a boat near the island of Crete.
Survivors told local sources that at least 22 migrants died during the journey, with reports indicating that 18 of the deceased were Bangladeshi nationals.
Identities of the four victims from Derai are Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna, 30, son of Abu Sayeed Sardar of Tarapasha village; Sajidur Rahman, 28, son of Abdul Gani; Shahan Mia, 25, son of Islam Uddin; and Mujibur Rahman, 38, son of Abdul Malek of Ranarchar village, confirmedĀ Derai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sanjeeb Sarkar.
“Three of them are from Kulanj union and one from Rajanagar union. We have confirmed the information after contacting their families,” he said.
He added that two other individuals from the same area survived the journey and provided details about the incident.
Umed Ali, uncle of Nuruzzaman, said he received a phone call from a fellow passenger confirming Moyna’s death.
“He told me that several Bangladeshis, including three more from Derai, had died on the boat,” he said.
Family members said the victims had each paid around Tk12 lakh to traffickers for passage to Greece via Libya.
They were reportedly promised a large and safe vessel but were instead placed on a small, overcrowded rubber boat.
The Greek Coast Guard said the boat had departed from Tobruk port in eastern Libya on 21 March.
The migrants were left drifting at sea for six days without sufficient food or water and eventually lost direction. Harsh weather conditions, along with dehydration and exhaustion, led to multiple deaths.
According to The Guardian, the vessel was located about 53 nautical miles from Ierapetra, a coastal town in southern Crete.
Greek authorities have arrested two suspected traffickers from South Sudan, aged 19 and 22, in connection with the incident.
They are facing charges of illegal entry and negligent homicide.
Authorities are continuing efforts to verify the identities of other victims and gather further information about the incident.
About The Author
