A desperate attempt to reach Greece through undocumented sea routes has ended in tragedy, with 22 migrants including at least four Bangladeshis dying of starvation after being stranded for six days on a floating rubber boat in the Mediterranean.
All four Bangladeshi victims were from Derai upazila in Sunamganj. They have been identified as Md Nuruzzaman Sardar (30), Sajidur Rahman (28), Sahan Ehiya (25) and Mujibur Rahman (38). Their bodies, along with others who succumbed to hunger and thirst, were reportedly thrown overboard by fellow passengers as conditions deteriorated.
Greek authorities have detained two Sudanese nationals, believed to be part of the smuggling operation. They have been ordered to appear before a court in Crete within 48 hours.
The heartbreaking details emerged after survivor Rohan Ahmed, 25, also from Tarapasha village, managed to contact relatives in Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon. Speaking to journalists by phone, he confirmed that several migrants died from starvation, including the four Bangladeshis.
Local union parishad member Shahnoor Mia said Rohan’s call was the first confirmation the village received about the deaths. The group had been transported from Libya toward Greece in a flimsy rubber boat a perilous journey that has claimed countless lives in recent years.
Families of the victims said each migrant had paid Tk12 lakh to brokers promising safe passage to Europe. They left home last month, paying half the amount upon reaching Libya. For days, relatives had no communication from them until today’s devastating news.
“We had no idea what happened to them,” said Mohammad Zakaria, elder brother of Sahan Ehiya. “This afternoon, our cousin Rohan called and told us they were gone.”
The tragedy underscores the deadly risks faced by migrants who entrust their lives to human traffickers, hoping for a better future but often finding only danger at sea.
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