The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia will arrive in the country this afternoon. According to a Facebook post by the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the coffins, transported via Saudia Airlines, are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 12:15 pm on May 2. On Tuesday, in the presence of Bangladesh's Ambassador to Libya and non-resident envoy to Tunisia, Major General (Retd.) Abul Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar, embassy officials transferred the bodies to the authorities at Tunis International Airport. Hasan Mahmud to attend OIC Summit in Gambia Following the tragic incident on the night of February 14, officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli worked closely with Tunisia's Foreign Ministry and local authorities to manage the forensic identification, confirmation of identities through domestic agencies, issuance of death and medical certificates, and coordination of the repatriation process. The Foreign Ministry's Africa Wing coordinated inter-ministerial efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies, with assistance from the ministries of home, law, and funds from the Expatriates Welfare Ministry. Among the deceased are Sajal, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Kazi Sajib, and Kaiser Khalifa from Madaripur district, and Rifat, Russel, and Imrul Kayes from Gopalganj district. A boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast. Out of the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, with others from Pakistan (8), Syria (5), and Egypt (4). Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national. Read more: Bangladesh, Austria agree to conclude MoU on migration, mobility

Arrangements have been made to bring back Bangladeshis who have been stranded or staying in Libya but willing to return home by a chartered flight on September 29. It will be the third such flight this month.

All 26 Bangladeshi nationals, who were killed in a gun attack in Libya on Thursday, have been buried at Mizdah.   M Ashraful Islam, Counsellor (Labour wing) at Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, confirmed it to UNB.   The Bangladeshi citizens were killed while 11 others were injured in a gun attack by some human traffickers on Thursday in the desert town of Mizdah, some 180km from Tripoli.   Bangladesh had communicated with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to make arrangements for the bodies of the victims and sought compensation for their families.   Bangladesh has also sought information on the human traffickers and demanded punishment of those involved in human trafficking and killing after their arrest.   Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday said six out of 11 injured Bangladesh citizens have fully recovered and Bangladesh Mission in Libya is in touch with them to get further details on the incident.   On Saturday, Bangladesh released names of 23 of those killed.   The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with information from Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli, also provided the identities of the injured.   The 23 deceased are -- Sujan and Kamrul from Gopalganj; Jakir Hossain, Jewel, Firuz, Jewel-2, Manik, Asadul, Aynal Mollah, Monir, Sajib, Shaheen, and Shamim from Madaripur; Arfan from Dhaka; Lal Chand from Magura; Rajon, Rahim, Shakil, Sakib, Akash, Shohag and Muhammad Ali from Kishoreganj; and Rakibul from Jashore.