Kidney trade syndicate preys on the poor

Capitalising on poverty and human desperation, a disturbing kidney selling racket has emerged across the country. Operating in both rural villages and urban cities, this syndicate preys on the poor, luring them to sell their kidneys with various temptations and lucrative offers. Utilising Facebook pages under multiple names, they promote these unethical deals digitally. 

The recent arrest of three members by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has shed light on the startling scope of this illegal organ trade. 

According to relevant sources, Robin, a resident of Shahali in Mirpur, formed a bond with Masum, a local youth, who promised him a job opportunity in India due to his connections there. Masum, along with another youth named Raju Hawlader, facilitated Robin's travel to New Delhi on December 22 last year. Upon arrival, Robin was coerced into donating a kidney at the Asian Hospital in Faridabad, exploiting his financial struggles. He was later moved to Gujarat, where the kidney was forcibly removed on March 4 at the Gujarat Kidney and Specialized Hospital. After the operation, Robin was held captive by the syndicate for about 10 to 11 days.

During this time, he discovered his kidney had been sold for approximately Tk 50 lakh. Threats of harm were used to intimidate Robin, while his wife received some financial support from the syndicate in Bangladesh. Robin's ordeal highlights the exploitation of poverty and vulnerability in organ trafficking schemes.

Present at the DMP media centre on Sunday, Robin told journalists that he was taken to India on the pretext of a job. But there, he was forced to sell his kidney through intimidation.

He said, “Initially I did not understand. These are part of an organized syndicate. Due to financial distress at home, I agreed to go to India for work.”

He alleged, “At the hospital, I was told they took 50 lakh taka for giving my kidney. But they did not give me that money. Instead, when I asked for the money, they threatened me.”

Upon investigation, it has been found that the syndicate has spread across cities and villages everywhere. They are particularly active in border areas. In the northern region of the country, including cities like Natore, Naogaon, Bogura, Dinajpur, at least hundreds of such groups are active. They target families facing financial hardships and lure individuals with various temptations to bring them to different places in India or the capital and force them to sell their kidneys. Additionally, posts enticing kidney sales are being made from various Facebook pages. 

Sources from DMP said that in the case of the victim Robin, they have arrested three individuals, namely Raju Hawlader, Shaheed Uddin, and Atahar Hossain Bappi. Among the absconding suspects, they have obtained the names of three more individuals: Md. Masum, Shahin, and Sagar alias Mostafa.

Police said there are 10-12 more members in this syndicate who are absconding. They are working to arrest them.

On the overall issue, Additional Commissioner of DMP Dr Khandkar Muhid Uddin told journalists, “Capitalizing on poverty, the syndicate has spread its net across the country. We have been able to arrest one syndicate involved in an incident. The drive to arrest more members of this syndicate is ongoing.”  

Professor Dr Kudrat-E-Khuda Babu, head of the law department at Daffodil International University, told the Daily Messenger, “The law enacted in 1999 regarding organ transplantation prohibited anyone from donating body organs except close blood relatives. According to this law, illegally selling organs is punishable by 3 to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of 3 lakh taka.”

He added, “Exploiting people's poverty for a deceitful syndicate is a heinous crime. I urge the law enforcement agencies to be more active.”

Professor Babrul Alam, director of the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, informed journalists that around 40,000 people in the country suffer from kidney disease every year on average. However, kidney transplants are not done except from close relatives. Police verification is required before taking a kidney. Kidney transplants are only done if the police report is satisfactory.