Sirajganj man dies as boat capsizes enroute to Italy, family allege malice

A man from Ullapara Upazila in Sirajganj has died while attempting to “illegally” migrate to Italy through the Mediterranean, with his family alleging he was killed and his body dumped at sea.

The family of Rakib Hossain Swadhin, 23, says they are still awaiting the return of his body, as relatives gather at their village home in grief.

Police said a suspected Bangladeshi trafficker, Abul Kalam Azad, was detained by the victim’s relatives on Saturday evening and handed over to police.

Ullapara Police Station Inspector (investigation) Rupu Kar said Kalam is being questioned and preparations are under way to file a case.

Swadhin, who had passed his HSC examinations and enrolled for a bachelor’s degree, left Bangladesh on May 22 to travel to Italy, his father Golam Kibria Firoz said.

According to Firoz, Kalam proposed sending Swadhin to Italy alongside his own younger son Jakaria, while Kalam’s elder son Saddam was already living in Italy.

“We paid Tk 2.5 million to Kalam,” Firoz said.

He said Swadhin and Jakaria first travelled from Dhaka to Chennai in India, and were then taken through Dubai, Sri Lanka, Egypt and finally Libya.

“During this time, Kalam took another Tk 1 million twice, claiming Swadhin had been detained and was in jail,” Firoz alleged.

The family claims that after reaching Sri Lanka, Kalam separated his son Jakaria from Swadhin.

Firoz alleged that on Nov 12, traffickers attempted to send 122 people from Libya to Italy by sea in a trawler, which partially capsized shortly after setting off.

“After that, most of the passengers were beaten and then killed, and their bodies were thrown into the sea,” he claimed.

He said he later learned that Swadhin was among those killed. Survivors from the incident, including seven people from Madaripur, returned to Bangladesh on Dec 18.

He went to the airport that day and confirmed his son’s death from them, Firoz said.

He added that despite repeated appeals, Kalam did not help recover his son’s body, and the family spent an additional Tk 200,000-300,000 seeking information through various channels.

Inspector Rupu said, “Swadhin’s relatives detained Abul Kalam Azad and handed him over to police. He is being interrogated. A case is being prepared in connection with the incident.”