The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Habiganj

The 17 Bangladeshi victims of the last month’s Turkish road crash tragedy were buried at their village homes at Nabiganj here 41 days after they were killed apparently on their way to Greece.

Officials and residents said, a Malaysian passenger aircraft carried the bodies back home after midnight on Thursday while they were brought to their village homes in ambulances early this morning to be received by bereaved family members and relatives.

Out of the 17, nine were from Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj while seven hailed from the same village.

On October 3, a small truck packed with the illegal immigrants overturned in western Turkey killing the 17 Bangladeshis and another foreign national and injuring 23.

The accident occurred near the town of Malkara, about 60 miles west of Istanbul, when the driver apparently lost control as the victims were traveling in hidden compartments on the back of the truck.

Turkish officials said, they were planning to sneak into Greece.

Turkey is a major transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe illegally.

This was the second such crash.