Most migrants on boat were Bangladeshis

Some 273 out of 287 migrants recently found on a boat in the Mediterranean have primarily been identified as Bangladeshis, according to the Bangladesh embassy in Rome.

The migrants were heading to Italy.

However, the embassy was yet to ascertain identities of seven individuals, reportedly Bangladeshis, who died of hypothermia while crossing the sea from Libya.

Arfanul Haque, labour welfare counsellor at the embassy, yesterday said their priority is to find out details of the deceased and send the bodies home.

Following their rescue, the Bangladeshis were taken into custody of Italian authorities at different centres, Arfanul said over phone, adding that Bangladeshi authorities already talked with some of the survivors.

Decisions regarding their fate will be as per Italian laws, he said.

There might be some minors but no female migrants were among those rescued  The boat also carried Egyptians, according to the embassy.

On getting information on January 25, the embassy has been in constant contact with relevant Italian authorities, reads a press release issued by the embassy on Friday.

Italian coast guard saw the boat some 18 miles off the coast of Lampione, an uninhabited island near Lampedusa, and rescue operations were conducted, Reuters reported quoting Prosecutor Luigi Patronaggio.