The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-5) has arrested the prime suspect involved in the abduction of 27 Bangladeshis in Libya for ransom.
On Thursday night, a team from RAB-5 arrested the suspect from his home in Singarpara village of Raninagar upazila in Naogaon, confirmed RAB-5 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Masud Parvez on Friday.
The arrestee has been identified as Zahid Hossain, 27, son of Ehrom Sardar, 50, he added.
One of the victims, Yakub Ali, 38, filed a case upon returning to the country, prompting RAB to launch an operation.
Lt Col Mohammad Masud said: "Zahid first came into contact with Yakub Ali through Facebook nearly two years ago. He lured Yakub with the promise of a job opportunity in Italy, claiming he owned a business there with many vacancies. After Yakub showed interest, Zahid instructed him to meet his father Ehrom Sardar and uncle Babu Mollah. Following their meeting on August 10, 2023, they agreed on a Tk20 lakh deal to facilitate Yakub’s migration to Italy.
"After an initial payment of Tk5 lakh, Zahid informed Yakub of his flight schedule. He took Yakub’s passport and sent him along with 26 others to Dubai from Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport. They reached Dubai on September 24, 2023, via an Emirates Airlines flight."
He continued: "From there, they were taken to Niger and then to Algeria. The 27 were arrested by local police and served jail time. Later, they were transported to Tunisia and then to Libya by the trafficking ring. Upon reaching Libya, the victims were confined in a house where they were subjected to both physical and mental abuse.
"Photos and videos of the captives were sent to their families, demanding ransom. Yakub’s family was asked to pay Tk50 lakh, and Tk35 lakh was eventually transferred to different bank accounts."
Following media coverage in Bangladesh, Major General Abul Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar from the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya took initiative to rescue the victims.
Yakub returned to Bangladesh on January 9 and filed a case at Kurigram Sadar police station on March 25.
Lt Col Mohammad Masud further said that Zahid has confessed to his crimes and admitted to kidnapping migrants under the guise of overseas job contracts to extort ransom.
Efforts are currently underway to arrest the remaining culprits, he added.