Photo : Collected
The discovery of a syndicate trafficking Rohingya women across Middle Eastern countries by posing as fake husbands has triggered a robust response from law enforcement agencies.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is taking stringent measures following the arrest of Hazrat Shahjalal at the International Airport. Simultaneously, the Immigration Police have initiated operations. Concerned individuals are expressing worry about the process of passport issuance and travel from areas where they are not authorised to obtain passports.
There's a growing concern among observers that human trafficking through tourist visas has escalated compared to previous periods. Tanjina Islam, an Additional Superintendent of Police stationed at Shahjalal International Airport, disclosed to Messenger, "Recently, a couple intending to travel to Dubai raised suspicion during their immigration check. Subsequently, it was revealed that they were not a genuine couple; the woman involved was Rohingya, having acquired Bangladeshi passports through a local broker. Their attempt to travel with the broker led to their apprehension at immigration. CID is actively investigating this case."
He further highlighted the worrying trend of Rohingyas obtaining passports and visas and entering immigration checks, which is a concerning issue.
Sources within CID's anti-trafficking unit emphasised their serious approach to investigating the trafficking of Rohingya women through airports. The investigation has unveiled a network operating primarily in the capital. This syndicate not only traffics Rohingya women but also local women to various Middle Eastern countries like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan.
Several officials within the team revealed that multiple gangs in Cox's Bazar smuggle Rohingya individuals, both men and women, to Malaysia via sea routes. Some members of these gangs are in communication with the syndicate based in Dhaka. These syndicate members provide passports through corrupt officials to smuggle Rohingyas out of the country.
Officials, for the sake of ongoing investigations and arrests, refrained from disclosing the syndicate's name.
Moreover, aside from trafficking Rohingya women, there's evidence suggesting increased activity in human trafficking surrounding Shahjalal International Airport. Investigations show a resurgence of human trafficking activities disguised under tourist visas, particularly trafficking individuals to Dubai, UAE. Victims are often held captive and extorted for ransom once in these countries, with reported cases in Libya involving torture for ransom.
The Immigration Police have adopted a vigilant stance, offloading more than 300 suspicious passengers in the last month alone. CID DIG Sheikh Nazmul Alam affirmed that multiple teams are diligently working to identify and apprehend these criminal syndicates. He emphasised that offloading occurs when the immigration police suspect foul play, leading to interrogations and subsequent arrests of brokers and suspected individuals.
He cautioned against unwittingly falling into the clutches of brokers, stating that individuals taking such routes face unforeseen dangers. Alam stressed the importance of intervention and arrest in order to prevent individuals from facing life-threatening risks, such as perilous sea crossings from Libya to Italy.
Messenger/Fameema
