Around 11 Bangladeshis Die Without Food and Water En Route from Libya to Greece

Around 11 Bangladeshis Die Without Food and Water En Route from Libya to Greece

A boat carrying 42 passengers drifted in the Mediterranean Sea for about 11 days without food or water while traveling from Libya to Greece, eventually reaching the coast of Marsa Matrouh in Egypt on August 13. According to Abdul Karim, a surviving Bangladeshi national onboard, the vessel's engine broke down and ran out of fuel after reaching the Mediterranean. As a result of the severe food and water shortage, he claimed that at least 11 people died, nine of whom were Bangladeshi nationals. Local residents spotted the boat and notified the police, who rescued around 29–30 survivors and admitted them to two hospitals.

Reports indicate that the boat was carrying 38 Bangladeshi and four Sudanese nationals. However, Md. Zakir Hossain, First Secretary (Labor) at the Bangladesh Embassy in Cairo, stated that Egyptian police have not yet received official information confirming the deaths at sea. Many of the rescued passengers are reported to be in critical physical condition due to the prolonged time spent at sea. Officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Cairo have requested direct access to speak with the rescued passengers to gather further details.