Nine migrants have died in a fire off the coast of Tunisia while crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya by boat. The Bangladesh Embassy in Libya has learned from various sources that most of them are Bangladeshi citizens.
According to a message sent from the embassy, a group of 52 migrants from the coast of Libya were on their way to Europe by sea when a fire broke out in the boat carrying them on the coast of Tunisia on February 15. Later, the Tunisian Navy recovered the bodies of 9 migrants and 43 people alive from the boat. Among the migrants rescued alive are 26 Bangladeshi nationals and one of them is in critical condition.
Apart from this, it is known from various sources that most of the people who died in the accident were Bangladeshi citizens.
The embassy is maintaining constant communication with the relevant Tunisian authorities, Red Crescent Society and IOM to ensure the necessary assistance and medical care to the rescued Bangladeshi nationals. They say efforts are being made to quickly send a team from the embassy to Tunisia to meet with local authorities and rescuers to ensure their welfare and collect detailed information on the dying Bangladeshis.
According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 3,000 migrants died in 2023 while trying to cross the Mediterranean from the shores of different countries to Europe and many more went missing. Recently, various European countries have taken a strict stance on illegal immigration. The navies of Libya and Tunisia have also stepped up their surveillance. As a result, Europe-journey across the Mediterranean Sea is very dangerous and risky.
The embassy has requested not to risk life by being lured by brokers and smugglers. In addition, they requested expatriates working or living in Libya to be careful about this.
At the same time, Bangladesh Embassy in Libya advised to warn their relatives, friends and acquaintances staying in Bangladesh.
