Dhaka Bureau: Although human trafficking happens frequently, the behind-the-scenes heroes remain elusive. The law and order forces have complained to the law and order forces about sending the country of dreams to Europe and collecting millions of rupees from the relatives of the country by taking them by boat in the Mediterranean and detaining them in Libya.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) of the police are investigating many such cases. The investigation also revealed that the human trafficking ring was holding and ransoming people from Dubai on chartered flights, claiming to be from Europe. It is said that the CID’s investigation has found a lot of evidence accusing a person named Mahabub Pathan of holding hostages in Libya. Despite efforts for almost two years, his whereabouts cannot be traced. But he is openly active in Libya. Also spread through social media.
It is known that Milan Bepari, son of Siraj Bepari of Bhujeshwar Pachok village in Naria, Shariatpur, signed a contract with a broker named Shafiq Sheikh for 8 lakh rupees to go to Italy. First, pay 200,000 rupees, and after arriving in Italy, you will pay the full amount. A verbal agreement was reached to send him to Italy via the Mediterranean in a wooden boat from Libya. Then, on April 27, 2021, he left for Libya. On reaching there, he realizes Shafiq’s true form.
The torture began after he was locked in a locked room in the Libyan city of Benghazi. Then the relatives in the country were called and asked for money. In the country, Shafiq’s wife, Hena Begum, received another Rs. 6 lakhs in stages. After being held there for 15 days and tortured to collect money instead of wood, they were given away in a plastic boat floating in the air along with some others. When the boat broke in the middle of the sea, they gave up hope of survival. In the meantime, an organization from that country rescued them in the Tunisian area. After staying in Tunisia for a month and a half, the government of that country sent Milne back to the country. Kaushik Kazi, Zakir Madbar, Eamon Shikder, Sharif, Tarek, Babu, Parvez, and Abbas Ali from the same area as Milne also returned home with the same life. When they all went to the Naria Police Station in July of that year, Milon Babiari became the plaintiff and filed a case on the charges of human trafficking. Later, CID started investigating that case. The investigating officer in the case is SI Sirajul Islam.
Returning from the door of death, Milon Bepari said that he is a member of a family of three brothers and one sister. Many of those who suffered the irony of fate with him later moved to Dubai to make up for the lack of family. Shafiq lived in Libya for 5–6 years and was recruiting people from the country. There are many other brokers who have key contacts in Libya.
On the other hand, it has been learned from Shariapur court and the CID office that after investigating the complaints of 20 victims, the CID came to know that a person named Mahabub Pathan, known as a leader of the Bangladeshi community, took refuge in Libya to save the Bangladeshis who were in trouble. His house is in Raipura, near Narsingdi. This mahabub asks people in danger to take money from their families to rescue them. Helpless people call their relatives in the country to escape the torture and urge them to be saved. After that, the relatives borrowed lakhs of rupees and deposited them in the bank of Mahabur’s younger brother, Awlad Pathan. After investigating the case of Naria’s matchmaker, the CID got such information and started investigating Mahabub. They find out that Mahaboob has been in Libya with his family for 13 years. There, he bought houses and cars and established a business. Also, as a leader of the Bangladeshi community, he has been doing the work of human trafficking and holding people to ransom for years.
After confirming the matter, the CID collected the details of his passport and sent a message to the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at the end of 2021. But he does not come home. The passport was also renewed in Libya. The CID then wrote to the Directorate of Passports, asking them to block the renewal of his passport. However, the CID is going to start the process of issuing a red notice to Interpol without being able to locate him. Awlad Pathan is also absconding after realizing the matter.
Meanwhile, the CID has arrested Shafiq Sheikh and his wife, Hena Begum, on the basis of the match case. Information was received from them that there is a huge network of human trafficking gangs in Dhaka’s Jamuna Future Park area. They do the job of processing people’s clothes. The CID has not been able to trace this gang yet due to repeated address changes.
Officers of a police unit working on human trafficking said that although there is no direct flight from Dubai to Libya, passengers are taken to Libya by chartering a plane from Dubai with the connivance of brokers from both countries. He was arrested there, tortured, and sent back to the country after collecting a ransom.
Calling and sending messages on Mahabub Pathan’s Facebook messenger to inquire about the complaint did not get any response.
