‘How come our expats take risky voyage’

Foreign Minister Dr AK Momen has expressed serious displeasure over risky voyages undertaken by Bangladeshi expatriates through Mediterranean.

“How come our people undertake the journey, knowing that it is risky to do so,” he told reporters during a briefing at the foreign ministry today.

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His comments come after 37 Bangladeshis were confirmed dead or missing in the sea near Tunisia last Friday. 14 others survived in the boat collapse that claimed lives of 60 migrants including Africans trying to reach Europe from Libya.

“The manpower brokers take advantage of the lawlessness of Libya and allure the Bangladeshi and other nationals to take to Europe via Libya,” he said.

“I don’t know how to stop it,” Momen said.

He said, due to war in Libya, Bangladesh stopped labour recruitment to the country, but the manpower brokers take the migrants to some of the Middle Eastern countries and from their they are taken to Libya.