The foreign ministry on Tuesday revealed the identities of eight Bangladeshis who drowned as their boat capsised while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea.
The victims were identified as Sajal, Nayan Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Kazi Sajeeb and Kaisar from Rajoir upazila of Madaripur district while Rifat, Russell and Imrul Kayes Apon from Muksudpur upazila in Gopalganj district.
The tragic incident took place when a boat carrying a group of Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Egyptians, Syrians, and Egyptian nationals -- embarking on a voyage from Libya to Europe -- capsized off the Tunisian coast in the early hours of February 14.
Rescue operations later recovered the bodies of eight Bangladeshis and one Pakistani, which were subsequently transferred to local hospitals.
The rescue team rescued 44 individuals alive while among the survivors 27 were Bangladeshi nationals.
Among the Bangladeshi victims, seven were traveling without passports, said the press release.
