The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police has arrested three individuals on charges of fraud, document forgery, and migrant smuggling under the guise of sending workers to Jordan.
A specialised team from the Human Trafficking Monitoring Cell conducted a raid at approximately 4pm on 14 June 2026 at the office of “Surah Travels and Traders,” situated in Rupayan Millennium Square, North Badda, where the suspects were apprehended.
The arrested individuals have been identified as 35-year-old Manjur Prodhania, son of the late Abdur Razzak Prodhania from Chandpur Sadar; 25-year-old Md Osman Gani, son of Md Faizullah from Kachua, Chandpur; and 28-year-old Kazi Md Ata-e-Rabbi, son of the late Kazi Abul Kashem from Chandraganj, Lakshmipur.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the agency, Surah Travels and Traders, forged the name, logo, and seal of “Jerash Garments and Fashion Manufacturing Company Ltd,” an entity based in the Al-Tajamouat Industrial Estate in Amman, Jordan.
By using these falsified credentials, the suspects allegedly lured job seekers with promises of employment in Jordan, charging each individual between Tk2 lakh and Tk2.5 lakh.
It was further revealed that although Surah Travels and Traders operated as a travel agency, it did not possess a valid recruiting licence.
Despite this lack of authorisation, the firm actively advertised employment opportunities in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, and Malaysia through its Facebook page.
The fraudulent activities were initially reported by Jerash Garments and Fashion Manufacturing Company Ltd through the Bangladesh Embassy in Jordan, and the complaint was subsequently forwarded to the CID by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
During the raid, CID officials seized 55 Bangladeshi passports, 16 non-judicial stamp agreements related to foreign travel, two CPUs, and one DVR.
Initial findings suggest that 18 of the seized passports belonged to individuals intending to travel to Jordan, while the remaining passports were for those seeking work in Saudi Arabia.
Authorities believe the collection of these passports without required approvals and licences indicates an intent for migrant smuggling.
Following the arrests, a case was filed at Badda Police Station on 15 June 2026 against the three suspects and four to five unidentified individuals. They face charges under Sections 15 and 20 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Ordinance 2026.
CID Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Jashim Uddin Khan said the investigation remains ongoing to identify and apprehend other associates involved in the racket.
