The 15 alive youths are returning to country who were rescued when their boat carrying them in the Mediterranean capsized off the Tunisian coast while going to Italy from Libya illegally.
Rubel Ahmed the most young of the alive group on Monday (May20) informed this to his family from the Tunisian airport on the eve of returning. He is the son of Chamak Ali of Ghoshal village under Kandigaon union of Sylhet Sadar upazilla.
At night Abul Hossain, maternal uncle of Rubel has confirmed Barta24.com that Rubel is supposed to reach Hazrat Shahjalal(RA)International Airport on the night of Tuesday (May21).
He further informed that the 15 ill-fated migrants are also being sent. They are now waiting at the Tunisian airport. They will reach Shahjalal airport in night.
Maternal uncle of Rubel said that in June of 2018, Rubel was sent to Libya through Rafiqul Islam Rafiq, a man power agent of Katahlipara village under Biswanath upazilla. Rafiq promised to send Rubel through his son Parvez staying at Libya. Before sending to Libya Rafiq took Taka 5.5 lakh from them. Next on May 9 just before sending Rubel to Italy he took more 3.5 lakh from them.
Abul Hossain claimed that Rafiq did not keep his word. There was word that Rubel will be sent to Libya by air way then will be sent to Italy in a fishing trawler.
Quoting Rubel, Abul Hossain told that when Rubel was pushed in a plastic like balloon boat he did not agree to go but later he was forced to get on in one of the two boats. In the boat he was pushed on there were 57 youths. Of them 15 were Bangla speaking. Of these 15, all 13 wanted to go to Italy through Rafiq. After the boat capsized they floated in the sea for two days two nights. When they reached Tunisian coast they were rescued by the coast guard. After rescuing they were admitted to hospital. Later Rubel came to know that the other boat also capsized in the sea killing all in the boat.
Rubel’s maternal uncle informed that though they have become penniless they are happy that Rubel has returned. This is their consolation.
They told that they will file case against the broker Rafiq.
It is mentioned here that on last May 9 evening a big size boat started its voyage with a large number of migrants in the Mediterranean sea enroute to Europe. Later in the deep sea the migrants were transferred into two boats. At the time of transferring to small boat it capsized in the sea. In the boat capsize incident, of the total dead the identity of 7 hailing from Sylhet have been confirmed. The rescued 15 are now on to home.