The process of bringing back the rescued Bangladesh nationals from Libya after twin incidents of boat capsize gets complicated as their attempts are considered as ‘offence’ and part of ‘illegal migration’. “Out of the 54 rescued Bangladesh nationals, around 42 are now in detention centers,” Counsellor (Labour), Bangladesh Embassy to Libya, now shifted in Tunisia, Ashraful Islam told UNB over phone from Libya.
He said, they are in discussions with a number of international organisations on how they can ensure release them from the detention centers. “Let’s try and work out.”
“They don’t have passports, visas. They’ve lost everything,” Ashraful Islam said adding that they committed ‘offences’ as per the law there. He, however, said they could bring 12 female rescued nationals under their custody after nearly two days of their detention. “They’ve been kept in two houses. They’re mentally very upset as they have lost their near and dear one.”
Responding to a question about the 24 dead bodies, he said they would be buried there (Tripoli, Libya). “As per their law, they won’t hand over dead bodies. So, we can’t send those back to home.”
Earlier on Saturday, Ashraful Islam confirmed UNB that the deaths of Bangladeshis in Libya boat capsize rose to 24, including three children.
He said, there were 78 Bangladesh nationals, including children and women, in the two boats. Of them, 54 were rescued alive. Ashraful Islam said Bangladesh has sought support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to send back the rescued Bangladesh nationals home. “So far, we’ve got 20 Bangladesh nationals who want to go back to Bangladesh,” he said adding that they have already talked to the IOM about it.
On August 27, around 2am, two boats carrying about 400-500 migrants, including reportedly Bangladeshis, capsized off the Libyan Coastal Town of Zuwara located around 300 km west of Tripoli, while crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
A Bangladesh Embassy team, led by Ashraful Islam, is coordinating medical and humanitarian support. The migrants were rescued by the Libyan Coast Guards and extended treatment facilities. The rescued Bangladeshis include four families with children. The first boat, which capsized early on Thursday, had nearly 100 people on board. The second, which sank later, was carrying about 400 passengers.
Rescuers have, meanwhile, pulled 82 bodies from the water and saved 198 people, according to an official with the Red Crescent.
