8 out of 43 Bangladeshis travelling in boats off Libya die

Eight out of 54 Bangladesh nationals, who were traveling in one of the two migrants’ boats, died as the watercraft capsized in sea off a Libyan coastal city on Thursday. At least 200 other boat people, mostly Syrian refugees, are feared to have perished in the Mediterranean Sea, report agencies. Bangladeshi fatalities include women and children. Confirming the incident, Bangladesh Embassy in Tunisia said, the incident happened while the boats, packed with migrants, were crossing Mediterranean Sea off Libyan coastal city of Zuwara, around 300 kilometres west of Tripoli. The two boats were carrying arund 500 migrants, an embassy official said in Tunis on Friday night. One of the boats were carrying 43 Bangladeshis, he said. A Bangladesh Embassy team led by counsellor (labour) is coordinating medical and humanitarian support to this end, he informed.
The Libyan Coast Guards who rescued about 200 migrants are extending medical facilities. The rescued Bangladeshis include four families with children. So far, all Bangladesh nationals admitted to the hospital have been released after first aid, the official said. A Bangladesh Embassy emergency cell has been opened with the following contact: Mr Ashraful Islam Counsellor (labour), mobile: 00218916994202.
UNB, quoting Ashraful Islam, Counsellor (labour) of Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, now situated in Tunisia, said eight Bangladeshis, including two children, were among those died after two boats carrying about 500 migrants sank off Zuwara. “The death toll is so far eight,” He said. Ashraful Islam, however, said they have not seen any deadbody yet but was confirming the deaths on the basis of their conversations with relatives. On August 27, around 2am, a boat (BBC says 2 boats) carrying about 400-500 migrants, including reportedly 54 Bangladeshis, capsized off Zuwara, 300km west of Libyan capital Tripoli, while crossing the Mediterranean. The rescued Bangladeshis include four families with children, Counsellor Ashraful, who is coordinating medical and humanitarian support, told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh on Friday. So far, all the Bangladesh nationals admitted to hospital have been released after first aid, told the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.
Rescuers quoting witnesses and survivours said, the first boat, which capsized early on Thursday, had nearly 100 people on board. The second, which sank later, was carrying about 400 passengers. Rescuers have pulled about 100 bodies from the water and saved more than 200 people, according to an official with the Red Crescent. Around 100 people are still missing, said Red Crescent official, Ibrahim al-Attoushi. The migrants were reportedly trying to go to Italy through Libya. The boats sank on Thursday after leaving Zuwara, a major launch pad on the Libyan coast for migrants hoping to reach Italy, al-Attoushi added.
- biplab