About 81 per cent Bangladeshi workers have been forced to migrate to Italy from Libya during 2013-17 period, according to a new study.
The study reveals that about 79.3 per cent of Bangladeshi migrants knew they might have to cross the Mediterranean Sea facing life-risk.
But they boarded on boats towards Italy for the sake of their lives and livelihood, reports UNB.
The study titled, 'Gambling on life. The plight of Bangladeshi migrants crossing the Mediterranean' was launched at Spectra Convention Centre in the capital on Sunday.
Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), a community-based migrants' organisation, conducted the study with the support of British High Commission in Dhaka.
Of the total surveyed migrants to Italy, 81 per cent Bangladeshi were forced migrants, while 15.7 per cent Bangladeshi migrants had fallen into the trap of human traffickers and smugglers and they came to Sudan, Egypt first, then Libya and finally to Italy, said the study.
OKUP chairman Shakirul Islam said that a total of 279 Bangladeshi migrants in Italy and 92 migrants' family members living in three villages in Bhairab upazila in Kishoreganj district were surveyed.
Most migrants have education under secondary level, he mentioned.
Migrants from Madaripur, Shariatpur, Cumilla and Noakhali are dominant in Italy, OKUP chairman said in his presentation.
The migration cost was found in the study ranging from USD 8000 to USD 18000, Shakirul said.
British high commission representativeLestay Nikol attended the launching event as special guest.
IOM deputy chief of mission Abdusattor Esoev who spoke as panelist said that it was necessary to create awareness about the danger of trafficking.
Skilled migration can be promoted to reduce risk of trafficking, he said.
The study recommended for reforming migration laws and ensuring effective implementation, allocating budgets for migrants' welfare and taking exemplary legal action against human traffickers with punishment.
OKUP executive director Omar Faruk Chowdhury, Topoti Saha from UNWOMEN, Sumaiya Islam from BOMSA, Anisur Rahman Khan of Awaj Foundation and journalist Keramot Ullah Biplop also spoke, among others, at the programme.