Deadly 'game' to Europe takes 18 Bangladeshi lives, 12 from Sunamganj 

Twelve of the 18 Bangladeshi migrants who died attempting to cross the Mediterranean were from Sunamganj. 

On a small, overcrowded boat that left Tobruk of eastern Libya on 21 March, hunger, thirst, and a failing engine turned their dreams of Europe into a drifting grave. 

For six harrowing days, passengers struggled for survival, and only after 22 lives were lost, the Greek coast guard spotted the boat near the coast of Crete and rescued 26 others, including 22 Bangladeshis, and arrested two Sudanese nationals.

The families of these young men, who set out to restore financial stability at home but returned as bodies, are now overwhelmed with grief. Their homes are filled with cries and mourning that refuse to subside. 

Traffickers' deadly 'game' making migrants pay

This perilous journey across the sea is referred to by human traffickers as a "game." Exploiting unemployment and poverty, trafficking networks take large sums of money to push young men into this deadly gamble. 

Shaek Ahmed's "game" began on 21 March. The day before, on 20 March, he spoke to his family, pleading to be rescued – even if it meant paying more money. Some of these conversations were recorded by his family. 

In one such audio clip, Shaek can be heard saying: "Pay them whatever it takes – 50, 60, or 70 thousand. Just get me out. Otherwise, I won't survive." His father, Akhlus Mia, said Shaek was put on the boat the very next day after that conversation. They lost contact with him afterwards and received news of his death on Saturday.

Dulon Mia of Kabirpur lost his 22-year-old son Naeem, despite paying Tk7.5 lakh in advance. "They starved him and took away his phone. He couldn't even speak to us in his final days," he said. 

Mizanur Rahman, brother of another victim, Aminur Rahman, said they learned details from a survivor who had been on a different boat in the same "game." That boat reached Greece, but the one carrying his brother faced a mechanical fault in the middle of the sea as its engine stopped. 

"It was from him that we learned about my brother's death," he said. He added that the boat carrying his brother drifted at sea for six days. "Those who had managed to carry some food and could drink seawater survived," he said.

Survivors also reported that bodies were kept on the boat for two days before being thrown into the sea as they began to decompose. A video circulating on social media shows a young man from Kishoreganj describing 43 people, including 38 Bangladeshis and five Sudanese, crammed onto the tiny, unsafe boat. 

He can be heard saying, "Eighteen have died, most from Sunamganj and Sylhet. The rest of us survived, but the sea and saltwater left us in critical condition." 

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam called the tragedy "extremely unfortunate," stressing traffickers must face punishment under domestic and international law. She noted repatriation and verification of bodies and survivors will take time, with Bangladeshi missions in Athens and Libya actively assisting. 

The victims from Sunamganj

Of the 12 victims, five were from Jagannathpur upazila: Aminur Rahman (35), Shaek Ahmed (20), Naeem Mia (22), Ali Hossain (25), and Md Sohanur Rahman (25). 

Five were from Dirai upazila: Md Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna (30), Md Sahan (25), Md Sajidur Rahman (28), Mujibur Rahman (40), and Suhanur Rahman (22). 

Another victim, Fahim Ahmed Munna (20), is from Dowarabazar. In addition, Md Tayeb Mia (24) from Matiapur village in Karimpur union remains missing. His family fears he also died at sea, as he had been travelling with the others.

Families demand justice

Families have identified the traffickers who orchestrated the deadly journey. Umed Ali, maternal uncle of Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna of Dirai, said Moyna and three others had paid Tk12 lakh each to a trafficker, Mujibur Rahman of Tarapasha village, for a supposedly safe journey to Greece. They were promised a large, secure boat but were placed on a small, unsafe vessel.

Shaek's father, Akhlus Mia, said his son had been sent abroad through Dulal Mia of Chhatak upazila and his brother Billal. "Billal operates from Greece, controlling the trafficking network, while Dulal works in Bangladesh, luring unsuspecting youths and taking money. They took the money and got my son killed. I want justice," he said.

Sunamganj Additional Superintendent of Police Sujon Sarkar said legal action will follow if families lodge complaints.