Hundreds of Bangladeshi youths are losing their lives in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to reach Europe illegally through human trafficking networks. Each journey costs between 1.5 and 3 million taka, yet many never reach their destination. According to the UNHCR, 39 percent of those traveling from Libya to Italy by sea are Bangladeshi, with 1,358 Bangladeshis among 5,901 arrivals as of March 22 this year. A recent tragedy on March 27 claimed 13 lives from Sunamganj district during a Libya-to-Greece crossing.

Experts blame both the government’s limited enforcement and the migrants’ unrealistic ambitions for the persistence of this “Europe game.” Research by BRAC shows that men aged 26–40, mostly from districts such as Madaripur, Shariatpur, and Sylhet, are the most likely to attempt the journey. Families often fall into debt after paying traffickers, while legal cases against smugglers see little progress.

Officials say the government is taking steps to curb illegal migration, though challenges remain in awareness campaigns and cross-border cooperation. The Home Ministry reports over 4,700 pending human trafficking cases, with more than 42,000 accused individuals nationwide.