The Mediterranean Sea, once the dream pathway for many Bangladeshis, has become a graveyard for their long-held dreams. The harsh reality is that Bangladeshi migrants, particularly youth, have to face this brutality because their decisions are driven by frustration, social pressure, and the rapid success not based on rationality. One such attempt is trying to reach Europe via dangerous maritime routes, evading border guards and crossing borders illegally. We all have witnessed the recent tragic news that around 18 Bangladeshis were captured in the unfit vessels in the Mediterranean Sea, lost their lives, and their decomposed bodies have been thrown into the sea. These tragedies not just expose the brutality of unsafe migration but also a flawed systemic migration framework, which allows these disastrous tragedies to occur repeatedly.
Sajidur Rahman, a 28-year-old Madrasa teacher from Tarapasha village of Sunamganj’s Dirai upazila, dreamed of lifting his farming family out of poverty. But instead of a blessing, this dream became a nightmare for him. He was trapped at a secret detention camp named ‘Game Ghar’, where he had to go through starvation and torture. Afterwards, he was forced to travel through a plastic boat without any provisions. In consequence, he died of hunger in the Mediterranean Sea – deceived, dehumanised, and abandoned by the dealers he paid to help him.
Another mirrored tragic victim, Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna, 30, had to go through the same fate. His family paid Tk12 Lakh to a broker named ‘Jasim’, paying half in advance. For over two months, traffickers cruelly toyed with the family, delaying his departure, falsely claiming he had reached Greece, before it was revealed that he had died on a boat.
The tragedy is heavily concentrated on North Eastern part, particularly Sunamganj District. Around 11 of the deceased hailed from Sunamganj. Other victims are from Habiganj and Kishoreganj. Among those from the same village, Mohammad Sahanur and Rohan Mia were also on the fragile boat. Though Sahanur is alive but critically sick and fighting for life, another had to accept death.
The terrifying fact is, the horror extends beyond starvation. The survivors claimed that 43 people (38 Bangladeshi and 5 Sudanese) were captured in a small, unfit vessel without GPS, satellite phones or any food and water. Many of the migrants had to spend months in the camps of Libya, dealing with starvation and dehydration, resulting in death. The fate of these decomposed bodies is to be thrown into the sea.
Losing loved ones is not the end here. The grief-stricken families have been subjected to continuous exploitation, even after the tragic death of those victims, with traffickers reportedly demanding money. The victim, Nuruzzaman’s brother Helal Sarder, issues a stark warning about not trusting local workers who gave fake commitments like safe passage but delivered death.
The International Organisation of Migration (IOM) report shows that around 606 migrants died or went missing in the Mediterranean route in just the first two months of this year. Recently, at least 22 aspirant migrants died while attempting to cross the sea in a smaller rubber boat from Libya heading to Greece, and 18 of them were Bangladeshi. The boat lost its way and bearings during the journey, spending six days at sea without any provisions. Later, a European Border Agency Vessel (Frontex) rescued the boat and 26 survivors. This alarming situation has drawn the concern of high government officials, expressing worrisome and urgent statements.
Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC’s Migration Programme, said Bangladesh has long been among the top source countries for irregular migration to Europe. The latest deaths are alarming, he added, as thousands more Bangladeshis are believed to be waiting in Libya for the same journey. He urged stronger government action at home and abroad with Libya, Greece, and Italy to stop such crossings.
The state minister, Nurul Haque Nur, added, “These deaths are very sad and unexpected.” The Bangladesh mission is contacting Greek authorities. The government, with the International Organisation for Migration, is supporting survivors and exploring ways to bring back bodies.
Shama Obaed Islam, state minister for foreign affairs. assured those responsible will be punished under the conditions of International and National Law. Further missions are investigating the trafficking as well as the perpetrators, whether Libyan or Bangladeshi, who must be brought to justice. She also emphasised that the immediate priority is the treatment of survivors, followed by nationality verification before repatriation. Embassies in Athens, Lebanon and Libya are working on the matter.
To overcome these consequences, firstly, Bangladesh must strengthen its bilateral relations with key transit and destination countries, particularly Libya, through a cooperative legal framework to facilitate collective action against trafficking perpetrators. If these traffickers do not face prosecution, efforts to protect victims will remain ineffective. Secondly, a proactive diplomatic presence must be ensured in transit hotspot countries to deliver legal assistance and fast humanitarian actions. Bangladeshi embassies, located in strategic transit hubs, should be governed through expert authority, trained personnel and resources to deliver such proactive measures. Thirdly, the government must ensure an active negotiation with the European Union and other driven markets about establishing accessible legal employment channels. It will reduce dependency on particular routes, simultaneously enhancing remittance flows and overall economic robustness.
Finally, to curb unsafe migration, particularly among high-risk groups such as women, a nationwide campaign is essential. At the same time, the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare must deploy nationally and internationally trained, skilled professionals in major embassies to create a more professional and responsive migration governance system.
By strengthening diplomatic measures, embassy capacity, providing an emergency migration-related legal framework and active protection of labour rights, these tragedies will be easier to eliminate and ensure a safe migration.
The writer is a student, International Relations, BUP, and Campus ambassador of Future Nation under UNDP, Associate of the Safe Migration team in Youth Policy Forum
