Turkey detains 2,000 Bangladeshis trying to enter Europe illegally

Thousands of Bangladeshis have been captured in Turkey after trying to illegally migrate to Europe from Middle Eastern countries.

The number was nearly 2,000, said a government handout, quoting Bangladesh's embassy in Turkey on Tuesday. 

The sluggish process to deport them may lead to a humanitarian crisis, said Bangladesh Ambassador S Allama Siddiki. 

Bangladeshi workers, legally employed in various Middle Eastern countries, have been coming to Turkey in large numbers in an effort to enter Europe.

"It is very risky to go to Europe illegally. Almost 2,000 are now in Turkey according to the figure released by the Bangladesh embassy and consulate in Istanbul," said Ambassador Siddiki. 

Several have died trying to take a sea route to Europe after being freed from detention centres in Turkey while others have lost everything to Turkey-based people smugglers, he said. 

A Bangladeshi died in Istanbul from such an incident recently, he said, without providing details. 

Turkey does not offer legal employment to illegal migrants, said Siddiki. 

"So illegals here work dangerous jobs for a long time, which never helps them improve economically. Turkey's refugee deal with EU makes it impossible to travel there illegally, so trying to achieve that is fruitless."