Locals in Rajoir upazila of Madaripur detained and handed over a couple to the police on Friday for their alleged involvement in a human trafficking ring that held individuals hostage in Libya to extract ransom.
The arrestees have been identified as Nikhil Faina, 50, and his wife Aroti Faina, 40, residents of Dighirpar village under Kadambari union of Rajoir.
According to police sources, the suspects allegedly lured Suman Sarkar, 33, son of Sushanta Sarkar of Lakshmipur village, and Samiran Mandal, 42, son of Subhash Chandra Mandal of Kadambari Madhyapara village, with the false promise of sending them to Italy.
Instead, they were taken to Libya, where they were held captive and subjected to “brutal torture.” The traffickers reportedly extorted between Tk70 lakh and Tk80 lakh from the victims’ families as ransom.
The victims eventually managed to return to Bangladesh with various forms of assistance. Upon spotting Nikhil and Aroti Faina in the locality, the victims’ relatives and local residents notified Rajoir Police Station, leading to the couple’s apprehension.
Police confirmed that the couple are known associates of Julhas Sardar, the prime accused in a case filed under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act (Case No. 24, dated June 12, 2026).
While Julhas Sardar is currently being held in Madaripur district jail, legal proceedings against the newly detained couple are presently underway.
