At least 11 Bangladeshi migrants died in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to travel from Libya to Greece illegally, reportedly due to a shortage of food and water after their boat's engine broke down.

The bodies were thrown into the sea after they began decomposing and emitting a foul smell, according to survivors.

Twenty-nine other Bangladeshi migrants were rescued alive and admitted to Marsa Matruh General Hospital in Egypt. The Bangladesh Embassy in Egypt is regularly monitoring their treatment and the overall situation.

The survivors told Egyptian police and local media on Sunday that several people died before their eyes due to a lack of food and water.

According to the survivors, a motorised boat carrying 42 migrants, including 38 Bangladeshis, left the coast of Tobruk, Libya, for Greece on the night of 3 August.

Shortly after the journey began, the boat encountered a storm, causing its supplies of food and water to be swept into the sea.

The migrants continued their dangerous journey without adequate food or water. After reaching an area near Greece, the boat's engine suddenly broke down, leaving it adrift in the sea.

Several migrants died due to the lack of food and water. The survivors said they had to throw the bodies into the sea after they began decomposing and emitting a foul smell.

After drifting in the Mediterranean for nine days, the boat reached waters near the coast of Marsa Matruh, Egypt, apparently carried by the wind and currents. Egyptian security forces later rescued the migrants.

Eighteen of the rescued Bangladeshis were admitted to Marsa Matruh General Hospital.

Abdul Karim, son of Abdul Hakim of Patharia village in Shantiganj upazila of Sunamganj, who is undergoing treatment at the hospital, described the ordeal.

“Our boat's engine broke down after we reached near Greece. As a result, we could not move forward. No one from the traffickers or any other organisation came to rescue us,” he said.

“We had no food or water. Nine Bangladeshis died before our eyes due to the lack of food and water. We had to throw their bodies into the sea. Two more died later,” he said.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Egypt said it was maintaining regular communication with Dr Sharif, a physician at Marsa Matruh General Hospital, and Badran, an official at the local police station, regarding the injured Bangladeshis.

Once the injured Bangladeshis recover,  arrangements will be made to send those in custody back to Bangladesh as soon as possible through travel permits after completion of the relevant legal procedures in Egypt, the embassy said.

SM/CitizenTimes