The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-2) arrested 14 brokers in an anti-scam operation near the Agargaon Passport Office in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Six of them were later sentenced to five days’ imprisonment each by a mobile court, says a press release.
The operation, led by Executive Magistrate Shah Md Jubaer, ran from 9:30am to 10:00am. RAB-2 apprehended 14 individuals involved in a passport broker ring.
Following a confession, six were immediately sentenced to five days’ rigorous imprisonment by the mobile court.
Three of the detainees were released after preliminary questioning found no links to the scam. The remaining individuals are under investigation.
Md Ismail Hossain, Deputy Director of Agargaon Passport Office, urged applicants to submit forms and payments directly without brokers.
He said public vigilance could help eliminate the broker networks completely.
RAB-2’s Deputy Director (Media), Major M Mubeen Rahman, explained that the brokers lured applicants outside the office and nearby banks.
They offered rapid passport processing for money, handling form completion, verification, and submission—even using fake documents—to cheat applicants of substantial sums.
He added that despite official warnings posted on notice boards and broadcast via public announcements, the brokers continued their disruptive activities. The six convicted individuals were sentenced based on their confessions.
