A total of 37 Bangladeshis among others feared dead in Friday's boat capsize in the Mediterranean Sea while attempting to reach Europe from Libya, confirmed Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli.
"Primarily, we came to know there were 51 Bangladesh nationals among others on the boat," ASM Ashraful Islam, labour counsellor of Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli said adding that 37 of them are still missing.
"About the death it will be premature to comment rather it can be said that out of 51 rest (37) are still missing. Whether dead or there is a chance of rescuing more we don't know yet. Wait until tomorrow for my presence at the spot. Rescue operation is still going on," UNB reported quoting Islam.
The labour counsellor said the Embassy is in touch with Red Crescent in Tunisia to know details. "We are yet to reach Tunisia. We hope to reach there today."
Mongi Slim, the head of Tunisia's Red Crescent, on Saturday said that around 75 migrants had left Libya's Zouara on the boat.
The BBC Bangla, quoting other agencies, claimed that most of the victims were Bangladeshis.
Slim told the Associated Press that only 16 people have been rescued by a Tunisian fishing boat and 14 of them are Bangladeshis.
He said those still missing are nationals of Bangladesh, Egypt, Morocco and unspecified countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Friday's accident was dubbed the "deadliest migrant boat sinking since January" by the International Organization for Migration.
Many Bangladeshis choose the risky way to reach Europe in the hope of a better life. A number of them often die in the seas.
At least 164 people have drowned in the first four months while crossing the sea from Libya to Europe, according to the UN.