Ignoring father's advice proves fatal for Sunamganj man

Nuruzzaman Sardar Moina, a 32-year-old migrant among the 21 Bangladeshis who tragically died in a boat bound for Europe - had ignored his father's advice of avoiding the risky voyage in the Mediterranean.

After Moina reached Libya during the journey, his father Abu Sardar talked to him over the phone and advised him not to take such risks. "I warned Moina twice not to take such risks. But he did not listen to me," Abu Sardar said on Sunday, adding, he (Moina) went on his way after talking to his brother.

Sources from Moina's family said he was travelling to Italy via Libya ignoring the family's attempts to stop him and paid a huge amount of money to a local broker in the hopes of a better life. However, that dream ultimately led to the tragic end of his life.

Moina of Tarpasha village in Kulanj Union in Sunamganj's Derai Upazila, is among the 12 residents of the district who died during the migration attempt, according to Sunamganj Additional Superintendent of Police Sujan Sarkar.

Moina's elder brother Helal Sardar said on Sunday, "I spoke to my brother the last time on March 22. He said that they would board the boat that day. Later, Ruhan, a passenger on the same boat from our village, said that my brother had died."

Residents of the village mourned Moina's death and the air was heavy in the area with wailing of the family members.

The rubber boat spent six days in the sea amid poor weather and a lack of food and water before 26 survivors, including a woman and a child, were rescued by a European border agency vessel on Friday.

Two of them were taken to hospital in Heraklion on the island of Crete. Rescued migrants said 22 of them died while at sea and the bodies were thrown overboard on the orders of one of the traffickers, a statement from the Greek coast guard said, according to agencies.

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