The bodies of eight Bangladeshis, who died in a boat capsize on Tunisian coast, reached Dhaka today (May 2).

A flight of Saudia Airlines carrying the eight bodies reached Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 12:30pm.

The deceased are: Mamun Sheikh, Sajal Bairagi, Nayan Biswas, Rifat Sheikh, Sajib Kazi, Imrul Kayes Apon, Md Abdur Kaiser and Rasel Sheikh. All are residents of Madaripur and Gopalganj.

On February 14, a boat carrying 53 individuals, including a sailor, capsized at 4.30am (local time) on its way to Europe, leaving nine passengers, including eight Bangladeshis and one Pakistan national, dead.

Earlier, the vessel left the Libyan coast town of Zuwar at 11.30 pm (local time).

A total of 44 passengers, including 27 Bangladeshis, were rescued.

Other nationals on board included eight Pakistanis, five Syrians, three Egyptians, and the sailor.

Shariful Hasan, associate director (Migration and Youth Platform) at BRAC, confirmed that 11 more Bangladeshis, who were also on the vessel, have already returned home.

A case was filed with Airport Police Station on April 19 by Sunil Bairagi, father of deceased Sajal Bairagi.

Police arrested two people in this connection.

BDST: 2000 HRS, MAY 2, 2024
MN/SMS