Police have arrested two members of a human trafficking gang following the deaths of eight Bangladeshis who drowned off the coast of Tunisia while trying to reach Italy by sea.
The arrests were carried out on Wednesday evening during a raid by Human Trafficking Unit (THB) of the Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Tekerhat Bazar area of Madaripur.
The suspects have been identified as Md Rafiqul Islam Rafiq Bagha, 54, of East Saramangal village in Rajoir Upazila, Madaripur, and Md Amir Hossain Swapan, 38, of Kanoria village in Muksudpur Upazila, Gopalganj.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the CID stated that between 9 December 2023 and 14 February 2024, attempts were made at various times to traffic Bangladeshi citizens from Libya to Italy by sea.
A boat capsized off the coast of Tunisia during this period, resulting in the deaths of eight Bangladeshis. The bodies of the deceased were later brought back to Bangladesh under government arrangements and handed over to their relatives.
According to the case documents, the sole survivor of the capsized boat disclosed the names and addresses of those involved in the trafficking ring in a statement given before a court.
The CID investigation revealed that an organised human trafficking syndicate collected large sums of money from the victims’ families by promising to send them legally to Italy.
The syndicate then attempted to send them illegally from Libya to Italy by sea using engine-driven trawlers. Eight Bangladeshis lost their lives when the trawler sank off the Tunisian coast.
During interrogation, the arrested suspects, Rafiqul and Amir, admitted to collecting money from the family of deceased victim Rasel Sheikh, 19, delivering the funds to other members of the trafficking ring, and assisting in the process of sending him abroad.
According to the CID, suspect Rafiqul faces charges at Rajoir Police Station in Madaripur under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, 2012, as well as the Penal Code.
Earlier in connection with the incident, two other accused individuals, Gurudas Barai, 45, and Md Motleb Matubbar, 68, were arrested and sent to court.
The CID added that the investigation into the case remains ongoing, with the investigative team working to identify other accomplices linked to the arrested suspects, absconding accused, domestic and foreign associates, and potential victims.
Meanwhile, the CID urged citizens not to hand over money or passports without verification after falling for enticements regarding overseas travel. Citizens were advised to follow government-approved legal procedures for overseas employment, migration, or travel, and to verify the legitimacy of the relevant individual or organisation.
