Online Desk : Bangladesh-based international development organization Brac on Friday demanded arrest and punishment of the gang involved in killing 26 Bangladesh citizens in Libya.
“If necessary, take assistance from international agencies in this regard,” said Shariful Islam, head of Brac’s migration programme.
Shariful said the human trafficking gangs in Libya have been keeping people hostage and torturing them, and eventually Bangladeshis became the victim.
“The on-going civil war in Libya is its internal issue, but taking advantage of that, a human trafficking gang has been active for a decade,” he added.
The gang has been taking Taka 3-4 lakh from each in the name of sending them to Europe by little boats through the Mediterranean Sea, said Shariful, adding that people are dying frequently while crossing the sea.
According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), over 20.5 lakh people crossed the Mediterranean Sea since April 2014 and more than 19,000 people died in accidents.
A total of 693 Bangladeshis were arrested while going through this illegal and risky route since January this year.
Expressing concern over the way Bangladeshis are going to Libya even as manpower export to the country remains suspended for five years, Brac said it requires an enquiry.
Mainly the people of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Noakhali, Madaripur, Shariatpur are going to Europe through this way, Shariful said, adding that this human trafficking gang must be identified and actions should be taken against them.
Earlier on Thursday, 26 Bangladesh citizens were killed while 12 others were injured in a gun attack reportedly by some human traffickers in Libya.Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Bangladesh Ambassador to Libya Sk Sekander Ali confirmed the incident to UNB on Thursday night.
