'Bangladeshis' among 40 sent to Albania

The Italian government has deported 40 undocumented migrants, including some 'Bangladeshis', to detention centres in Albania, reports bdnews24.com.

On Friday, the migrants were sent from the port of Brindisi aboard a vessel named "Libra". They were handcuffed during the transfer.

It marked the fourth such deportation to Albania. Previously, the Italian government had been compelled by court orders in Rome to repatriate migrants on three separate occasions.

According to local authorities, the deported migrants include nationals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Georgia, Algeria, Nigeria, Moldova, Tunisia, and Egypt. However, no official data was released, specifying how many Bangladeshis were among them.

Saiful Islam, first secretary of the Bangladesh Embassy in Rome, said: "Among those sent on the day, a few have been identified by local authorities as Bangladeshis. The embassy will be officially informed once their identities are confirmed, and further steps will be taken as per Italian regulations."

Migration expert and Rome-based Bangladeshi M K Rahman Liton said the Italian government was offering legal pathways for migration. "Our focus should be on proper training and preparation to enter Italy through lawful means."