Search Continues for 38 Missing Young Bangladeshis at Sea

Habiganj, Bangladesh: Nearly two months and eight days after embarking from Libya towards Italy, the whereabouts of 38 young men from Habiganj remain unknown. The district police have issued notices to eight individuals, including alleged human trafficking kingpin Hasan Mollas, urging the victims’ families to file formal complaints to facilitate legal action.

Superintendent of Police, Mosha Yasmin Khatun, emphasised the urgency of the matter, directing Azmiriganj police officials to produce Hasan Mollas’ four associates—Mostakim, Tafsir, Mizan and Sohag—at the office of Additional Superintendent of Police Prabash Kumar Singh for investigative purposes. Despite extensive efforts, including inquiries in Libyan prisons, hospitals and other potential locations, the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya reported no trace of the missing men.

Details of the Disappearance

The families of the missing migrants had entrusted Hasan Mollas, described locally as an “Adam Bepari”, with sums ranging from 17 to 20 lakh taka per person, in the hope of safe passage to Italy. Anxiety has gripped these households, leaving many reluctant to speak out or pursue legal avenues.

The men lost contact hours after departure on 30 September from Tripoli’s coast, while aboard one of four boats attempting the Mediterranean crossing. That particular vessel, carrying 90 passengers including the 38 from Habiganj, has vanished. The remaining three boats successfully reached Italy.

Background of the Alleged Trafficking Network

Investigations suggest that Hasan Mollas has established a dominant network of brokers, facilitating the migration of nearly 1,000 Bangladeshis to Italy within six months, amassing hundreds of crores of taka in profit. Each journey from Tripoli to the Mediterranean reportedly takes around 10 hours by boat, with the men subjected to significant risk during the crossing.

The disappearance of the Habiganj youths has drawn renewed attention to Mollas’ human trafficking operation, colloquially known as the “Adam business”, highlighting the perils faced by migrants seeking a new life abroad. The Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, alongside Red Crescent and other humanitarian organisations, continues efforts to locate the missing, though past experiences indicate minimal chance of survival in cases of prolonged disappearance at sea.

Authorities have urged families to file formal complaints, stressing that legal proceedings are essential to apprehend the traffickers and potentially recover missing individuals. Meanwhile, the search continues amid mounting concern for the fate of the 38 young men from Habiganj.