Family members of a human trafficking ring have shot dead 30 migrant workers, including 26Bangladeshis, in the Mediterranean country, Libya. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) expresses deep concern and grief over this incident. ASK calls on the Bangladesh government to adopt strong diplomatic efforts to ensure that action is taken against those involved in the killings including the human traffickers involved with illegal migration in Bangladesh.

According to media reports, on 28 May 2020, the massacre took place in the Sahara Desert, Mizda as was reported by the country’s internationally recognised government, the Government of National Accord (GNA). The dead included 26 Bangladeshis and four Africans. Another 11people were injured in the incident. It has been known that in Mizda city, there are fights between the human trafficking gangs and immigrants on the basis of money. In one such fight, one of the traffickers was killed. To avenge him, the family members of the deceased carried out this mass murder.

For long there have been allegations that a significant number of migrants from Bangladesh go to Libya illegally with the help of human traffickers. This trend was further worsened by the fact that for migrants the country is now one of the en-routes to Europe via the Mediterranean. As a result, many tragic accidents, including boat-capsize in the Mediterranean are often reported.ASK demands that necessary measures are taken to curb illegal migration and ensure exemplary punishment for the human traffickers. ASK calls on the government to adopt strong diplomatic efforts in order to ensure that the injured are treated and brought back to the country and those involved in the killings be punished.

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