MADARIPUR, Sept 30: The incidents of human trafficking increases in the district, creating panic among the residents.
A gang of human traffickers recently sent 13 youths to Libya giving promise of providing good jobs. But the youths are confined in torture cells.
The victim families have paid huge amount of taka as ransom but could not release their sons from the clutches of the illegal human-trafficking agents.
Moreover, the traffickers are threatening the families sending video footage of torturing the victims and demanding more money as ransom. They also threatened to kill them if their desire is not fulfilled.
Four victims got released on Friday night after RAB arrested a trafficker named Sumon Chhoyal, 35, son of Abdul Hamid Chhoyal of Paschim Longshing village under Naria upazila of Shariatpur district.
According to his confessional statement, the elite force also arrested four other brokers in different drives.
Major Rakibuzzaman, commander of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-8) Madaripur disclosed it to local journalists at a press conference held at the RAB Media Centre on Thursday.
Arrested traffickers are: Siraj Matobbar, 52, of Dhuuati in Dottapari village of Shibchar upazila, Alamgir Hossain Ripon, 44, son of Nazir Ahmed, Nayana Akhter, 28, wife of Shahin Alam, of Charmonsa village under Sadar upazila of Laxmipur district, and Shamsur Rahman, 42, son Ismail Kari of Panchpukuria village under Muradnagar upazila of Comilla district on September 11.
Quoting the comment of the victims' families, the RAB commander said, the seven youths out of 13 are: Nitai Baroy, 25, son of Noyon Baroy, Gobinda Mandal, 24, son of Premchad Mandal, Bijan Sarkar, 23, son of Bivuti Sarkar, Litu Mandal, 22, son of Partha Mandal, Manaranjan, 26, son of Madhu Mandal, Prokas Baroy, 24, son of Prosanta Baroy, and Zahidul Bawaly, 25, son of Tara Bawaly of South Khalia under Rajoir upazila of the district.
Siraj Matubbar, 52, of village Dhuati in Dottapari union of Shibchar upazila and also a broker, sent the youths by taking Tk 4 lakh from each.
Later, the youths were tortured in a torture cell of Libya. The traffickers also demanded Tk 11 lakh from the victim families to release them.
The victim fathers Noyon Baroy, Premchad Mandal, Bivuti Sarkar, Partha Mandal, Madhu Mandal, Prosant Baroy and Tara Bawaly told the correspondent that "Finding no other option, we had to pay the ransom but our sons did not return home. We are uncertain if our sons will return home or not".
However, Siraj Matubbar was also arrested by RAB on August 21.
On the other hand, Shahin Khalifa, 25, son of Tara Miah, of the village and his cousin Robiul Khalifa, 24, of Adel Uddin of Bepari Kandi village under Shibchar upazila in Madaripur were introduced with one Alamgir Hossen and Nayana Akhter while living in Dhaka two years ago. Following this acquaintance, Alamgir Hossain, Nayana Akhter and Shamsur Rahman took Tk 10 lakh from Shahin and Robiul and sent them to Libya on May 14, 2017.
But the traffickers detained them at an unknown place and demanded Tk 25 lakh more from the victim families. Later, the families gave Tk 25 lakh to the traffickers through bKash, but the victims were not freed, said the victim fathers Adel Uddin and Tara Miah.
They also said "We are now ruined in debt paying lot of money to the traffickers as ransom. We are now living under the open sky; we are leading our lives by begging from door to door".
RAB sources said, acting on a tip-off, RAB and Police, in separate drives in Laxmipur and Comilla districts, arrested three traffickers Alamgir Hossen Ripon, Nayana Akhter, and Shamsur Rahman on September 11.
Besides, Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-8, in a drive, arrested an international human trafficker from the district on Wednesday.
The RAB members also seized 59 mobile SIM cards, 29 mobile sets and Tk 18 lakh from the possession of Sumon who admitted trafficking one Juel sheikh, 24, son of Ali Miah, Dadon Matubbar, 25, son of Edris Matubbor of village Gobindapur of Rajoir upazila, Juel Bepari, 24, son of Jamal Bapari of West Sormongal village and Eman Bepari, 28, son of Lokman Bepari of Sankordi village of Rajoir upazila . Later, these four victims were released on Friday after arresting of Sumon Chhoyal by RAB on Thursday.
RAB commander confirmed the releasing of four victims to the journalists.
Anna Begem, wife of Dadon Matubbor who got release on Friday said, "I heard the news of releasing my husband and I talked with my husband over cell phone. I am waiting for him.
Superintendent of Madaripur Police Md Sorwarr Hossain said "Police and RAB in separate drives arrested the five brokers, including a woman on charge of human trafficking from different places of the country. The drive will be continued further.
"We have already submitted the charge-sheet to the court after investigating the most human trafficking cases. We all should be aware of going abroad by abiding the rules and regulation, he opined.
