Sunamganj Families Mourn Ten Migrant Deaths at Sea

At least ten young men from Bangladesh’s Sunamganj district are feared dead after reportedly dying in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting an illegal crossing to Greece on a traffickers’ vessel, amid severe shortages of food and drinking water. The victims are believed to have fallen prey to organised human smuggling networks after selling land, borrowing money, and risking everything in pursuit of a better life in Europe.

The tragedy has devastated multiple households across the district, with grieving relatives demanding justice and the arrest of those responsible for facilitating the perilous journey. Many families have expressed anger and despair, describing how their sons and brothers were misled by traffickers who promised safe passage and employment opportunities abroad.

According to information gathered from bereaved families, local representatives and law enforcement sources, the deceased are believed to have come from three upazilas in Sunamganj: five from Jagannathpur, four from Derai, and one from Dowarabazar. District authorities, however, have stated that they are still independently verifying the information, as no consolidated official report has yet been confirmed.

Fatal journey across the Mediterranean

Family accounts indicate that the incident occurred on Friday (27 March) near the Greek island of Crete, when a vessel carrying around 26 migrants—at least 18 of them Bangladeshi nationals—ran into a severe shortage of food and drinking water. Preliminary reports and survivor testimonies suggest that several passengers died en route due to dehydration and starvation under harsh maritime conditions.

By Saturday, news of the incident began reaching families in Bangladesh through informal communication channels, triggering widespread shock and distress as relatives struggled to confirm the fate of their loved ones.

Authorities believe the migrants had spent several months in Libya before being placed on the overcrowded vessel bound for Europe. Reports suggest that traffickers moved them through a network of so-called “safe houses” before transferring them in stages towards the Mediterranean departure route.

Victims identified by families

Jagannathpur upazila

Derai upazila

Dowarabazar upazila

Family members say each victim had paid between Tk 11–12 lakh to human traffickers for passage to Greece. Many had sold agricultural land or taken loans to finance the journey. Several reportedly left Bangladesh three to four months earlier, initially travelling to Libya before being moved onwards by smuggling networks operating across North Africa.

Anger and allegations against traffickers

Relatives have voiced deep anger at human trafficking syndicates, accusing them of exploiting vulnerable young people with false promises of overseas employment.

One family member, Jhinuk Mia of Jagannathpur’s Chilaoora village, said his brother Naeem Ahmed had been taken from a traffickers’ holding facility and later placed on a boat without any reliable communication with the family. “We could not reach him for days. Now we are being told he has died at sea,” he said, demanding strict punishment for those responsible.

Local Union Parishad Chairman Shahidul Islam Bakul confirmed that at least two youths from his area were among the victims. He added that many families have been left financially ruined after paying large sums to traffickers.

Official position

The office of the Sunamganj Superintendent of Police confirmed that it has so far verified eight deaths linked to Derai and Jagannathpur, while claims of two additional fatalities remain under investigation.

Police Inspector (DIO-1) Md Azizur Rahman stated that authorities are working to confirm identities and cross-check information with affected families. He noted that the situation remains fluid as new details continue to emerge from multiple sources.

Continuing uncertainty

As grief deepens across Sunamganj, families continue to await official confirmation and the possible repatriation of bodies. Concerns remain that the death toll could rise further as additional information is received from international maritime authorities and rescue agencies.

The incident once again underscores the deadly risks of irregular migration across the Mediterranean Sea, where vulnerable migrants frequently fall victim to transnational trafficking networks operating across North Africa and Southern Europe.