The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two alleged members of a human trafficking ring over the kidnapping of a Bangladeshi man in Libya and demanding ransom from his family.
The arrestees were identified as Md Monowar Hossain, 40, and Md Sohel Rana, 45, both from Chandpur village under Singra upazila in Natore.
They were arrested during a raid on the Singra Bazar area of Natore around 1pm on Thursday, the CID said.
According to the investigation, Md Saiful, 39, son of Md Abdus Samad of Manmat Bipujipara village in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha, went to Libya about two years ago through a Bangladeshi agent named Sohel in search of a better life for his family.
However, after reaching Libya, he fell into the hands of a human trafficking ring and was held captive.
On August 5, 2025, his wife received a phone call from a Libyan number, informing her that Saiful was being held captive. The callers demanded Tk 30 lakh as ransom and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid.
They also said the family would not be allowed to speak to Saiful until at least half of the ransom was paid.
Between August 10 and 25, 2025, the family paid Tk5 lakh through a bKash agent at Bamondanga Hall Mor in Sundarganj. The money was sent to several mobile numbers provided by the callers.
However, even after receiving the money, the kidnappers did not allow the family to speak to Saiful.
Later, a man identifying himself as Sohel contacted Saiful's wife, claiming to have information about her husband and offering to travel to Libya himself to rescue him.
He asked her to meet him in Dhaka's Kadamtali area, but when she arrived, his mobile phone was found switched off.
Subsequently, another caller demanded Tk42 lakh from Saiful's father, promising to rescue his son. The caller claimed that Saiful was being held by two people named Mokarram and Anwar in Libya.
The 70-year-old father refused to pay any more money without first being allowed to speak to his son. No further calls were received by either him or Saiful's wife.
Later, Abdus Samad filed a case with Sundarganj Police Station on September 5, 2025. The CID later took over the investigation.
During the investigation, the CID collected information, evidence and intelligence and identified the two suspects. A team later arrested Monowar and Sohel Rana.
The CID is now questioning the detained suspects to identify other members of the trafficking network, trace the routes used by the traffickers and locate and rescue Saiful in Libya.