Shamsul Haque Jewel, Gazipur Correspondent:
Members of a human trafficking gang trapped Arif Hossain (45) of Kaliganj, Gazipur, with the promise of a job in Italy, took him to Myanmar, tortured him and extorted a ransom of Tk 10 lakh in several stages. In a sensational incident, Kaliganj Police have arrested four members of the human trafficking gang, including a Rohingya, from Cox's Bazar. The prisoner, Arif Hossain, is the son of Joynal Abedin of Chuariakhola area of Tumlia Union under Kaliganj Upazila.
Police and relatives of the prisoner said that Arif Hossain, son of Joynal Abedin of Chuariakhola village of the upazila, was working in Malaysia two years ago when he met Abdullah Al Mamun (30), son of Kamal Uddin of West Sikder Para, Ramu, Cox's Bazar, and Mostaq Ahmed, son of Mir Kashem of East Kalatli, and 3-4 unknown people through a distant relative. At that time, they said that they were in the business of sending people abroad. Arif Hossain returned to the country from Malaysia in 2023. Then Mamun and Mostaq tempted him to send him to Italy.
At one point, they reached an agreement in December 2024 to go to Italy for 600,000 taka. Then, on December 11, 100,000 taka was sent to Abdullah Al Mamun's bank account and another 100,000 taka on December 17. In addition, another 300,000 taka was given in cash. Then, they took Arif first to Myanmar and then to Italy, and took him away from his home on December 11. After taking him to Myanmar, they imprisoned and tortured Arif Hossain. Later, the kidnappers called his family from an unknown mobile number and told Arif that he would be released if he sent 100,000 taka. Then, on January 1, 100,000 taka was sent to Mamun's Islami Bank account. But they did not release Arif. Then, the gang members demanded another 400,000 taka as ransom. They threatened to kill Arif if he did not pay. Later, on January 5, 400,000 taka was sent to multiple bKash numbers they had given them.
But after receiving the money, the accused switched off all their mobile phones. At one stage, on January 18, Arif's wife Sultana Begum first filed a general diary (GD number: 906) with Kaliganj Police Station, mentioning the overall situation. Then on January 26, she filed a case number 33(2)25 with Kaliganj Police Station under Section 7/8/10 (1) of the 'Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act-2012' on the charge of luring and detaining a person abroad and extorting ransom. During the investigation of the case, the police came to know that those involved in this incident are active members of an international human trafficking ring. At one stage of the investigation, with the help of information technology, it was first learned that the accused Mostaq was staying in Cox's Bazar. Later, a drive was conducted in Cox's Bazar and Mostaq was arrested on the 20th. Then, based on the information provided by him, a drive was conducted until Friday night and three more members of the human trafficking ring were arrested from Cox's Bazar and Teknaf areas.
Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Alauddin said, "Four members of an international human trafficking ring, including a Rohingya, have been arrested in this sensational incident. They were sent to court on Saturday."
Shamsul Haque Jewel
