7 Bangladeshis who died of hypothermia on migrant boat identified

Seven Bangladeshi migrants, who died of hypothermia on a boat from Libya towards the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa on January 25, have been identified.

The deceased were identified as Imran Hossain from Madaripur, Roton alias Joy Talukdar from Madaripur, Safayet from Madaripur, Jahirul from Madaripur, Bappi from Madaripur, Sajjad from Sunamganj, and Saiful from Kishoreganj, according to a press release of Embassy of the People's Republic of Bangaldesh, Italy.

According to the press release, a two-member embassy representative team led by Md Erfanul Haque, Councillor of Labour Welfare, identified the deceased after speaking with the rescued people at the hotspot camp in the presence of Italy police.

The Italian coastguard saw the boat overnight some 18 miles off the coast of Lampione, an uninhabited island near Lampedusa, and rescue operations were conducted.

Lampedusa Mayor Salvatore Martello confirmed the death toll, adding the vessel was carrying 280 migrants, mainly from Bangladesh and Egypt.