A Dhaka court on Thursday placed four suspects, including the mastermind of a massive student visa fraud scheme, on remand for allegedly embezzling over Tk8.38 crore from 91 students.
Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam passed the order following a hearing where the suspects faced the wrath of their victims within the court precincts.
The remanded suspects are Mohammad Harun Ur Rashid (also known as Md Matiur Rahman), Rabeya Khatun Tania, Saidur Rahman, and Md Tanjir Islam. The court granted a four-day remand for Tanjir and five days each for the other three suspects.
The proceedings were marked by volatile scenes as aggrieved students gathered to demand justice. As the suspects were escorted to court under police protection, the victims began shouting abuse. The situation escalated in the court corridors where several students attempted to physically assault the accused.
Following the hearing, police equipped the suspects with helmets and bulletproof jackets for their safety. However, as they were being led to the lock-up (hajatkhana), the excited students launched another attack.
The mob reportedly attempted to break the main gate of the lock-up and engaged in a confrontation with police officers. Order was eventually restored after interventions by several individuals, including the defendant’s lawyer, Ruhul Amin Molla.
Earlier in the day, the investigating officer of the case, Sub-Inspector Md Billal Bhuiyan of Bhatara Police Station, produced the suspects in court with a prayer for a seven-day remand. State counsel Golam Mortuja Ibn Islam argued in favour of the remand during the hearing.
According to the case files, a firm named “Visa Guide Company” initially assured the victims of sending them abroad on student visas within four months. Subsequently, another entity, “Just Thought Education Consultant Company,” reportedly collected a total of Tk8,38,94,000 from 91 students at various times.
Despite the payments, the companies failed to process the visas or send the students abroad within the stipulated timeframe. When the victims approached the offices, the suspects repeatedly offered false assurances regarding student and family visa processing before ultimately embezzling the entire sum.
The case was filed on 8 July by a victim named Al Amin. The complaint names 13 individuals and mentions a further 7 to 8 unidentified persons as accomplices in the fraud.
