Italian sources have primarily confirmed that 273 out of 287 migrants recently trying to cross the Mediterranean and reach Italy were from Bangladesh, of whom seven died of hypothermia.
The Bangladesh embassy in Rome said in a statement that it has been in constant contact with the Italian authorities to gather information on the death of the seven Bangladeshis for taking appropriate measures.
A two-member team led by Labour Welfare Counsellor Md Arfanul Hoque reached the Lampedusa island on January 26, a day after the tragedy, it said
The following day, the delegation and Lampedusa Deputy Mayor Prestipino Salvatore discussed the incident and possible arrangements to prevent such occurrences in close coordination between Italy and the embassy.
The seven bodies have been sent to Agrigento, in Sicily to be kept at the morgue till repatriation or burial.
They died due to cold weather while attempting to reach Italy by braving the perilous Mediterranean crossing from Libya.
The embassy urged all not to be trapped by human traffickers, and expressed condolences for the victims and sympathy for the bereaved families.
