\\\'Drowned\\\' student spotted among migrants rescued in Indonesia

Sabbir Hasan, who reportedly drowned at sea a year ago while vacationing at

Saint Martin's Island, has been spotted among migrants rescued from human smugglers in Indonesia, his family claims, reports bdnews24.com.

A year on, Sabbir's elder sister Nadia Hasan said her mother identified Sabbir from a photo published in a newspaper on May 11. "Two photos were published in the Prothom Alo and the Kaler Kantho on May 11. It shows a boy lying on the ground. "My mother is sure that he is Sabbir. Our whole family is now hopeful … about getting my brother back," she told bdnews24.com.  

Sabbir's mother Selina Akhter said she identified her son from photos of rescued migrants recently published in two daily newspapers.

The family has contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is looking into the claim, reported a Bangladesh newspaper, quoting State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam.

The 'discovery' has led to massive speculations on social media website.

Sabbir, a student of the Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, went to Saint Martin's with 33 of his friends to celebrate the Bengali New Year in 2014.

He was among the two who went missing while bathing in the sea. Some of his friends were rescued alive and four dead bodies were recovered.

Nadia Hasan said her father Hasanur Rahman immediately contacted the foreign ministry and had the photo sent over to Bangladesh embassy in Indonesia.

Rahman, a former additional secretary at the foreign ministry, lives with his family in Mohammadpur.  

The unfolding crisis of starved Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants abandoned at sea by their smugglers is making waves across the world.

Cox's Bazar's Teknaf coast is used for this elaborate route.

Massive criticism followed after Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia denied refuge to these desperate people fleeing persecution or economic disparities.

Indonesia, under international pressure, began rescuing the people stuck on boats and some ended up at Aceh province.