Migrants on Greece-bound boat died of hunger, exhaustion; bodies thrown into Mediterranean

The bodies of at least 22 migrants who died during a journey from Libya to Greece on a small rubber boat were thrown into the Mediterranean, with survivors citing hunger, dehydration and extreme conditions as the cause of death.

The incident came to light through accounts of survivors after Greek authorities rescued 26 people on Friday (27 March), following six days at sea while attempting to reach Europe.

Eighteen of the deceased were Bangladeshis, and among them, 10 were from Sunamganj.

Five were from Jagannathpur upazila – Aminur Rahman, 35, of Pailgaon village; Shayek Miah, 20, of Tiargaon; Naim Miah, 22, of Kabirpur; Ali Hossain, 25, of Ichhgaon; and Ebadat Hossain Suhanur, 22, of Bauri village.

Four others were from Derai upazila – Md Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna, 30, of Tarapasha village; Md Sahan, 25, and Md Sajidur Rahman, 28, of the same village; and Mujibur Rahman, 40, of Ronarchor village.

Another victim, Fahim Ahmed Munna, 20, of Kabirnagar village in Dowarabazar upazila, was also among the dead. A man named Tareq, 22, from Karimpur union in Derai, remains missing.

According to survivors, the deaths occurred during a days-long journey marked by exhaustion, lack of food and water, and rough weather conditions.

They said the bodies were kept on the boat for some time before being thrown into the sea on the instructions of traffickers.

A video that circulated on Facebook on Saturday (28 March) evening included testimony from a survivor from Kishoreganj.

"We were put on a small boat after being promised a large one. There were 5 Sudanese citizens and 38 other Bangladeshis on that boat. Among them, 18 have died, whose homes are in Sunamganj and Sylhet of Bangladesh. The rest of us are alive, and the bodies of the deceased youths were kept on the boat for two days. Later, as the bodies began to rot and emit a stench, everyone was thrown into the sea. Our condition is also bad due to the salt water," he said.

Family members said they learned of the deaths through phone calls from those who survived.

Umed Ali, maternal uncle of Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna from Derai, said, "A survivor called me to inform me of Moyna's death. I was told over the phone that besides Moyna, several other Bangladeshis, including three more from Derai, have died."

He added that Moyna and others had arranged to travel to Greece via Libya under agreements reportedly costing around Tk12 lakh per person. Although they were promised a large and safer vessel, they were instead placed on a smaller and more dangerous boat.

Family members also alleged the involvement of local brokers. They said the journey had been arranged through Dulal Mia of Chhatak Police Station area and his brother Billal, who is believed to operate from Greece.

According to relatives, Aminur began his journey on 15 January under a contract of Tk11 lakh.

Despite assurances of reaching Greece within three days, he was held in different locations in Libya for about three months.

For part of that time, he was kept in a "game ghar" (detention centre) under harsh conditions, including deprivation of food and physical abuse, according to his brother-in-law Jahidur Rahman Jahid.

Local officials have confirmed several of the deaths. Derai Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sanjib Sarkar said four residents of the upazila had died, based on local enquiries. He added that information was also obtained from two survivors who had travelled with them.

Jagannathpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shafiqul Islam said authorities were verifying the number of victims from the area.

The incident has prompted renewed calls from local residents for action against trafficking networks that lure migrants with promises of safe passage to Europe.