Dreams dashed in desert | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
November 30, 2023

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
    • Book Review
    • Brands
    • Earth
    • Explorer
    • Food
    • Habitat
    • In Focus
    • Luxury
    • Mode
    • Panorama
    • Pursuit
    • Wheels
  • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • Videos
    • TBS Graduates
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • COVID-19
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Tech
    • Magazine
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2023
Dreams dashed in desert

Migration

TBS Report
04 October, 2020, 11:15 pm
Last modified: 04 October, 2020, 11:22 pm

Related News

  • 143 Bangladeshis repatriated from Libya
  • 4 Bangladeshis among 6 expats killed in Qatar fire
  • Bangladesh, Libya sign MoU for safe recruitment of workers
  • Libya flood disaster displaced over 43,000 people: IOM
  • 'They knew' - fury of Libyans that warnings went unheeded before flood

Dreams dashed in desert

The nine survivors of the Mizdah attack who have returned home bear horrifying signs of torture on their body – some of them freshly healed bullet wounds, some had battered limbs

TBS Report
04 October, 2020, 11:15 pm
Last modified: 04 October, 2020, 11:22 pm
Migrants, including nine survivors of the Mizdah incident, left Libya earlier this week. Photo: UNB
Migrants, including nine survivors of the Mizdah incident, left Libya earlier this week. Photo: UNB

Highlights:

Libya massacre

  • 30 migrants including 26 Bangladeshis were killed in the shooting
  • 12 Bangladeshis survived the massacre, but three are yet to come back
  • Those who returned are still bearing horrifying signs of torture on their body

Firoz Bepari, from Madaripur, went to Libya in the hope of bringing fortune to his family.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

However, the deadly shooting in the Libyan town of Mizdah on 26 May this year dashed his dream and instead of becoming the bread earner, he has apparently become a burden for his family. 

Firoz was shot in the incident and was later thrown into a garbage dump, and got paralysed.

"I was permanently paralysed in the attack," Firoz told reporters while walking on a crutch at the CID office in Dhaka on Sunday.

"I went to Libya to change the fate of myself as well as that of my family. But I came back as a burden to the family, as I have to live with paralysis all my life," he uttered, staring at a bleak future.

Firoz Bepari along with eight other survivors of the deadly attack, in which 30 migrants including 26 Bangladeshis were killed and 12 others injured, returned home on a special flight of Borak Airlines on 30 September.

There were a total of 12 survivors, but three are yet to come to Bangladesh, said the criminal investigation department.

The ones who have returned are still bearing horrifying signs of torture on their body – some of them freshly healed bullet wounds, some had battered limbs, and there is Firoz who has been permanently disabled and has to move on crutches.

The nine survivors of the attack who have been brought back by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are Firoz Bepari, Janu Miah, Omar Sheikh, Sajal Miah, Tariqul Islam, Bakul Hossain, Mohammad Ali, Sohag Ahmed, and Saidul Islam. And Bappidatta, Samrat Khalasi and Sajid are yet to bring back to Dhaka as they are getting treatment in a Lybia hospital.

Sharing his experience, Janu Miah from Bhairab of Kishoreganj told the media that they along with other Bangladeshis reached Libya's Tripoli after a few months of a perilous journey through India-Dubai-Egypt and Bengazi.

"Sometimes we travelled on air and sometimes walked through the border. After at least five months of a perilous journey we could reach Lybia," he added.    

"On 26 May at around 1 pm local time the mafia came to our camp to physically torture us – this was a daily routine, of course, but that day they indiscriminately tortured us," narrated one survivor, Janu Miah.

"There were around 100 to 150 people from Ghana, Nigeria, and Sudan, among whom around 30-35 were women. The Libyan mafia started by beating them up…and on that day, they retaliated. They killed a member of the mafia," he narrated.

"Then other members of the mafia gang came and fired at us indiscriminately. That is how 26 of us died, and 12 of us got injured," Janu said.

"Later we were rescued and taken to a hospital but the hospital authorities refused to admit us. Doctors said we have no chance of survival. Then we were taken to another hospital, but we were not allowed to get treatment there either."

"Later in the morning of 27 May, 12 of us were thrown into a heap of garbage in the desert. After walking 2-2.5 kilometers from there and found a house of a Sudanese camel-herder. But there is no shelter in the house for us.

"There we saw a Libyan citizen who informed the army about us. Army personnel then came and admitted us to Tripoli University Medical College Hospital. Even after being admitted there, our treatment was not started. Only the veranda of the hospital was left to us," he said while breaking into tears.

"We had to wait until the Bangladeshi embassy came before treatment begun. My surgery was done at 1 am in the night," Janu Miah said.  

Following the briefing, the survivors were taken to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court to give their statements about what happened in Libya.

Meanwhile, CID's Organised Crime DIG Abdullah Hale Baki said 26 cases have been filed so far in this regard.

"Of which, 15 are being investigated by the CID. In the meantime, 44 accused have been arrested. We are also working in coordination with other organisations concerned. No one involved in the incident will be spared," he added.

Responding to a question, Syeda Jannat Ara, Special Superintendent of Police for Organised Crime, CID, said a red notice would be issued through Interpol next week to arrest 8 to 10 accused while they are absconding abroad.

Bangladesh / Top News

Libya Attack / Bangladeshi migrants / Bangladeshi expats / libya / Mezda

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Go for reforms as Five-Year Plan goes off track: Report
    Go for reforms as Five-Year Plan goes off track: Report
  • Small parties make big buzz. Polls look 'participatory'
    Small parties make big buzz. Polls look 'participatory'
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Dollar rate cut again, by Tk0.25, within a week

MOST VIEWED

  • Tax return time extension likely
    Tax return time extension likely
  • 12 expressways outlined for wider connectivity by 2041
    12 expressways outlined for wider connectivity by 2041
  • Photo: TBS
    Ctg city enters ‘Smart School Bus’ era
  • The architectural design of Anukrom is a triumph of purpose and ingenuity – a rectangular structure that stretches east to west, crafting out two courtyards. Photo: Shakil Hai
    Anukrom: A mother’s dream, a son’s guilt and an award-winning home
  • Representational image. 
Photo: Dmytro Demidko on Unsplash
    Usable forex reserves stands at $15.82 billion
  • File Photo: Reuters
    Reserves now at $19.52 billion: Bangladesh Bank

Related News

  • 143 Bangladeshis repatriated from Libya
  • 4 Bangladeshis among 6 expats killed in Qatar fire
  • Bangladesh, Libya sign MoU for safe recruitment of workers
  • Libya flood disaster displaced over 43,000 people: IOM
  • 'They knew' - fury of Libyans that warnings went unheeded before flood

Features

Disadvantaged groups are more exposed to climate effects and less able to recover from damages. A Bangladeshi family travels to a safer location as water enters new areas after the cyclone Aila hit Bangladesh in 2009. Photo: Abir Abdullah

Climate and inequality entwinement imperils us all

18h | Panorama
A lesson on living the moment: 20 years of Kal Ho Naa Ho

A lesson on living the moment: 20 years of Kal Ho Naa Ho

1d | Features
In Barishal’s case, the low-cost of travel via waterways encourages people to migrate to Dhaka and other cities, like Chattogram. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Why nearly a-fifth of people from Barishal moved to Dhaka

1d | Panorama
Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

Political unrest hampers admission prep for HSC 2023 intake

1d | Education

More Videos from TBS

Why is Google deleting inactive accounts?

Why is Google deleting inactive accounts?

4h | Tech Talk
Ukraine is trying to increase exports amid fears

Ukraine is trying to increase exports amid fears

7h | TBS World
Cats and dogs in the whole house of one bigha of land in Narayanganj!

Cats and dogs in the whole house of one bigha of land in Narayanganj!

6h | TBS Stories
Referees being helped by British Airways pilots to improve VAR chaos

Referees being helped by British Airways pilots to improve VAR chaos

5h | TBS SPORTS
EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2023
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]