Libya boat capsize: 27 Bangladeshis return Saturday

Twenty seven Bangladeshis, who survived after two boats capsized off Libyan coast on August 24, will return home on Saturday.

The rescued migrants will reach Dhaka from Libya by a flight of Turkish Airline, ASM Ashraful Islam, counsellor (labour) at Bangladesh embassy in Libya, told The Daily Star today over phone.

“They will leave Masallata airport of Libya at 11:00pm (local time) by a domestic flight of Turkish Airline today and will reach Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Then, they will fly by another flight to reach Dhaka,” he confirmed.

The migrants might reach Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 5:00am on Saturday, Ashraful added.

All the 27 migrants are men, the counsellor said, adding that most of them are from Shariatpur and Madaripur.

They were among some 500 migrants from Asia, Africa and Middle East who boarded two vessels that sank after leaving Libyan port city of Zuwara for Italy, the counsellor further said.

A total of 24 Bangladeshis were among those who perished in the Mediterranean Sea when the boats sank off the coast of Libya and 54 others were rescued alive, said the Bangladesh embassy.

The Bangladeshis were allegedly trying to go to European countries, especially Italy along with the other migrants.