State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Sunday said that human trafficking must be stopped and those involved in such inhumane activities must face exemplary punishment.
“The long-term solution is how human trafficking can be prevented. We must find a way. It cannot be allowed. This does not fall under any definition of civilisation,” she told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The State Minister said traffickers must be punished under both domestic and international laws.
Govt prioritises safety of Bangladeshis abroad amid Middle East tensions: State Minister
At least 18 Bangladeshis died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea through a risky and illegal route, trying to reach Greece via Libya.
International media, quoting the Greek coastguard, reported that 22 migrants died off the coast of Greece while attempting to reach Europe. Another 26 survived the ordeal and were rescued by a European border agency vessel near the island of Crete.
Officials said the survivors included a woman and a minor, adding that those in need of medical care were transferred to hospitals.
Among the survivors, 21 were Bangladeshi citizens, four were from South Sudan, and one was a Chadian national.
The boat had been at sea for six days after departing from Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, on March 21. The city is widely seen by migrants as a gateway to seeking asylum in the European Union.
“We are yet to receive details. Our missions are in constant communication with the authorities there (Greece). The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment is also aware of the situation. We are working together to ensure proper support for those who were rescued,” the State Minister said.
She described the incident as extremely unfortunate, noting that people are engaging in such inhumane acts for financial gain.
Those rescued have been taken either to hospitals or camps, she added.
Need to Complete Certain Procedures
Responding to a question about repatriating the bodies and survivors, the State Minister said it would take some time. “We need to complete certain procedures. In such incidents, governments become particularly sensitive,” she said.
The State Minister said the priority is to assess the condition of the survivors, confirm their identities, and complete proper verification before taking further steps, including assistance and repatriation.
She said Bangladesh embassies in Athens and Libya remain active in dealing with the situation and are continuing investigations.
“We have received preliminary information from our missions,” the State Minister said, adding that they suspect that trafficking networks are operating both in Bangladesh and Libya.
She said these groups lure people with false promises and put their lives at risk.
The State Minister said citizens from a number of countries were on board, calling it particularly tragic that a woman and a child were among them. “Our missions are working to gather more details,” she added.
The State Minister said she has instructed the relevant missions to investigate and identify those responsible.
“We are facing a harsh global reality. People in many countries feel insecure for various reasons. In such circumstances, exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit through inhumane means is deeply unfortunate,” she said.
The number of migrants who have died trying to reach EU soil more than doubled in the first two months of 2026, compared with last year, the EU border agency Frontex said earlier this month.