Eighteen Bangladeshi migrants died in the Mediterranean Sea in March 2026 while attempting to reach Greece through a human trafficking network. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Mohammad Mikail Islam, 52, from the Sylhet airport area on Monday in connection with the case. He is a resident of Mithapur village in Dirai upazila, Sunamganj. The arrest followed a case filed by the father of one victim, identified as Masum (pseudonym), at Dirai Police Station.

According to the case statement, Masum and Mikail were from the same village. The trafficking group promised to send Masum to Greece in exchange for 1.3 million taka, with partial payments made before and after arrival. Masum’s family paid 400,000 taka through a bank and 150,000 taka in cash to Mikail. After being taken to Libya, Masum and 44 others were sent by boat toward Greece on March 21. Adverse weather left the vessel stranded for days, leading to severe shortages of food and water.

Eighteen Bangladeshi passengers, including Masum, died from hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. Survivors said traffickers ordered the bodies to be thrown into the sea. The CID’s anti-human trafficking unit is currently investigating the case.