Bangladesh, the odyssey towards Europe through Libya, the stories of families: it is the journey of hope but the crossing becomes a nightmare
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DHAKA (AsiaNews) – In 2022, over 15 thousand migrants from Bangladesh arrived in Italy from Libya, double the number of the previous year (7,838) and equal to just over 14% of all arrivals, forming the third most represented nationality. Traveling from Bangladesh to Libya via a third country is now an established practice among migrants. Many make the journey in the hope of a better future, but the crossing often turns into a nightmare. In the first three months of the year, net of more than 20,000 landings, almost 500 people died or went missing, many of whom were from Bangladesh again.
Those 7,200 euros given to the trafficker. In one of the latest tragedies at sea, out of 30 missing people (17 were rescued and taken to safety in the city of Pozzallo, in Sicily) at least 12 come from Faridpur, a city that is part of the division of the capital Dhaka. “For a better life, I sent my son to Italy. But all dreams have gone up in smoke and now I want my son back”, he told AsiaNews Torap Molla, 30, father of Shafiqual Islam Russell, who is missing, explaining that to arrive in Italy his son had made an agreement for 800,000 taka (equal to 7,272 euros) with a trafficker named Murad Faki. Leaving Bangladesh at the beginning of the year, Shafiqual arrived in Libya on 12 January via Dubai. After staying in the North African country for two months, on March 12 the boat that was supposed to take him to Italy sank. “Murad Faki told us that many people had gone to Italy thanks to him, but by trusting him we lost my son,” added the father.
The Bengalis dispersed. Among the 12 Bangladeshis missing in the Mediterranean is also Mahfuz Molla, 22, the son of a farmer. His younger brother, Tanveer, said, “I let my brother go abroad to spin the wheel of fortune. But I never imagined that the wheel would spin like this.” In this case the family had had to pay 750,000 taka (6,696 euros) for Mahfuz’s trip. “We have borrowed money from various organizations. We had hoped to see some prosperity after living in a world of shortcomings, but all our dreams have been drowned at sea.”
The most dangerous route in the world. Although the eastern Mediterranean continues to be the deadliest route in the world, according to data from theInternational Organization of Migration (OIM) Italy is a favorite destination for migrants from Bangladesh thanks to the possibility of regular transit through Libya. The latest data from the IOM state that in 2022 21,653 Bangladeshis lived in Libya, of which the vast majority (74%) concentrated in the western part of the country, after having entered through regular channels through Turkey (36%), the United Arab United States (38%) or Egypt (13%). 93% said they arrived by plane.
The witness. Back in Bangladesh for a holiday, Haroon ur Rashid, who left the country for over 20 years and managed to get to Italy via Libya, told AsiaNews his own experience: “In 2000, when I was only 20, I went to Libya through an intermediary. For a few years, I worked for a Korean company that built water pipes. The salary was low and it was difficult to pay off the debt incurred to get to Libya. In 2007 it occurred to me to go to Italy”. At that point Harun made contact with a trafficker, who promised that he would take him to Europe by sea for the price of 200,000 taka (1,785 euros).
The training of traffickers to navigate at sea. Once a group of about fifty people has been gathered, some migrants are selected by the traffickers to be trained to find their way by sea to Sicily using only a compass, explained Harun: “The journey to Italy starts from the Libyan coasts of Zoara and Tajora, but the traffickers leave the boats unloading any kind of responsibility”, continued the former migrant. “Even with some training it is difficult to determine the course and the boats drift. If one survives and manages to arrive in Italy, one can ask for political asylum, but if it is not granted, one has six days to return to Bangladesh”. A Dhaka government official who declined to be named told AsiaNews that around 150,000 Bangladeshi migrants are said to be living in Italy, working in various sectors, including agriculture, shipbuilding and itinerant trade.
* Sumon Corraya – Asianews
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