The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia, arrived in the country on Thursday afternoon.

A flight carrying the carcasses landed the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at about 12:30pm.

On February 14, a boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast, leaving nine people dead.

Forty-four people were rescued alive after the boat capsized.

Among the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, eight from Pakistan, five from Syria, three from Egypt and the boat man.

Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national.

The deceased were identified as Sajal Boiragi, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Sajib Kazi, Rifat Sheikh, Imrul Kayes, Md Kaiser, Apon and Russel Sheikh from Madaripur and Gopalganj districts.

Meanwhile, a case was filed with the Airport Police Station.

Police arrested two people in this connection.