Bangladeshis feared dead off Libya Coast in attempt to reach Italy illegally

The bodies of at least 20 individuals, presumed as Bangladeshi nationals, have been recovered from the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya after a boat carrying illegal migrants capsized while attempting to reach Italy. On Saturday, The Bangladesh foreign ministry said that no identification document was found on them and that the Red Crescent, which handled the burials, believes the victims were Bangladeshis.

The ministry said the bodies were buried in Ajdabiya, which is about 40km away from Brega in Libya on Friday, as they were decomposing. The victims were part of a group of migrants who had embarked on the perilous journey from Libya to Italy in search of better opportunities. The boat reportedly sank in the



Mediterranean, and the bodies washed ashore near the coastal town of Brega in eastern Libya, reports Daily Observer newspaper.

Earlier, On 30 January, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya issued a statement expressing concern over reports of multiple bodies washing ashore in Brega, Libya. Local authorities believe the victims were illegal migrants whose boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. Meanwhile, last week human traffickers shot dead two Bangladeshi young men, who were promised a journey to Italy. The tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea illegally, often in overcrowded and unsafe vessels, reports Daily Observer.