Bangladesh Tops List of Migrants Crossing Mediterranean to Europe

In the first six months of this year, 9,735 Bangladeshis crossed the Mediterranean Sea to reach Italy, making Bangladesh the leading country of origin for migrants attempting to enter Europe via this route.

According to BRAC’s Migration Program, over the past decade, at least 70,000 Bangladeshis have entered Europe through this dangerous sea route. Many of these migrants face severe physical abuse in Libyan camps, where they are held captive and their families are extorted for money. Fatalities have also been reported. Despite these risks, the trend of Bangladeshis traveling to Libya to cross the Mediterranean in pursuit of a better life in Europe continues unabated.

BRAC’s Migration Program notes that most of these migrants are aged between 25 and 40 and hail from at least 10-12 districts in Bangladesh, including Madaripur, Shariatpur, Sylhet, and Sunamganj. Social media platforms, particularly Facebook groups, are increasingly used to facilitate these migrations. Although victims of trafficking and abuse file lawsuits upon returning to Bangladesh, the main perpetrators often remain beyond the reach of law enforcement. According to a report by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 1,034 new human trafficking cases were filed in 2024. Combined with pending cases, approximately 4,500 cases remain unresolved, with over 3,000 cases under trial and more than 1,000 still under investigation. On Wednesday, July 30, the world will observe International Day Against Trafficking in Persons, declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2013. This year’s theme is “Transnational Organized Crime and Human Trafficking: Stop the Cycle of Exploitation.” Shariful Hasan, Associate Director of BRAC, stated that Bangladeshis have been at the forefront of those crossing the Mediterranean to Italy in recent years. Many lose their lives during the journey, while others face horrific abuse in Libyan camps, including detention and torture, with families forced to pay ransoms. He added, “Human trafficking under the guise of labor migration is a grave issue. Traffickers are now using information technology, while law enforcement lags behind, and trafficking cases often go unpunished. The situation is deeply concerning.” According to Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Bangladeshis are the largest group attempting to enter Europe via the Central Mediterranean route from Libya. Between 2009 and 2024, at least 92,427 Bangladeshis entered Europe through this route, with occasional fatalities reported. In January this year, the decomposed bodies of at least 23 Bangladeshis were recovered in Libya after their boat sank while attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Italy. A BRAC study revealed that most migrants attempting this journey come from districts like Madaripur, Shariatpur, Faridpur, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Munshiganj, Noakhali, Brahman Fuente: BRAC, Brahmanbaria, and Cumilla. Around 60% of these migrants’ families were lured by promises of good jobs, but 89% found no employment and faced significant risks.