All 20 found dead off Libya coast feared to be Bangladeshis
2 Faridpur youths shot dead in Libya
Twenty bodies recovered from the coast of Brega, Libya, are feared to be of Bangladeshi nationals, according to a press release from the foreign ministry today (1 February).
Citing the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the ministry said the identities of the deceased could not be confirmed due to decomposition, and no documents were found with them.
"However, the local Red Crescent assumes all of them are Bangladeshi nationals," reads the statement.
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The incident took place in an area under the jurisdiction of Libya's Eastern Government, headquartered in Benghazi, it added. "The Bangladesh Embassy is yet to receive clearance to visit the site."
All 20 bodies have already been buried at Ajdadia, 40km from Brega, it said.
On 30 January, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya issued a statement expressing concern over reports of multiple bodies washing ashore in Brega. Local authorities believe the victims were migrants whose boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.
2 Faridpur youth shot dead in Libya
Meanwhile, two men from Faridpur's Bhanga who were taken to Libya with the promise of being sent to Italy have been shot and killed. The deceased are Hridoy Hawlader, 26 and Rasel Howlader, 25.
The brokers who promised to send the two to Italy sent pictures of their bodies to their family members on WhatsApp.
"We have been informed about the matter," said Md Moksedur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Bhanga police station. "Legal steps will be taken if the family members lodge complaints."
Mintu Howlader, father of Hridoy, said, "I sent my son to Italy spending Tk16 lakh through locals named Abu, Tara Matubbar, Almas and Anwar two months ago. My son was first taken to Dubai. From there, he was taken to Libya via Saudi Arabia. He was killed in Libya."
Mokhlesur Rahman, elder brother of Hridoy, said, "I couldn't contact my brother for the past few days. The agents have sent photos of his body today. They were asking for more money, even though we gave them Tk16 lakh as promised. They have killed my brother for not getting more money."
