Six Bangladesh nationals among those killed in Europe-bound migrant boat capsize off Libyan coast

No fewer than six Bangladeshis, including at least two children, are among those found dead in the migrant boat capsize off the Libyan coast, the Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli says.

Chargé d'affaires Mozammel Haque of the Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli, which is being run from Tunisia due to conflict in Libya, has confirmed bdnews24.com of the death of the Bangladesh nationals.

More than 200 people are feared dead after two boats carrying around 500 migrants capsized near the Libyan port of Zuwara.

Rescuers have pulled 82 bodies from the water and saved 198 people, BBC says quoting an official with the Red Crescent.

The victims include Syrians, Bangladeshis and people from sub-Saharan Africa.

Ashraful Islam, Counsellor (labour) of Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli, told bdnews24.com from Zuwara that there were 54 Bangladeshis on one of the boats.

He said 46 of them survived the mishap.

The foreign ministry in Dhaka in a statement said Bangladesh embassy team led by the counsellor was coordinating medical and humanitarian support.

The rescued Bangladeshis include four families with children. So far, all Bangladesh nationals admitted to hospital have been released after first aid.

A Bangladesh embassy emergency cell has been opened with the counsellor Islam as the main contact point for the victims’ family.