After a long hiatus, human traffickers in Cox’s Bazar have recently become active thanks to the ongoing political unrest.
Hundreds of people have allegedly been trafficked to Malaysia through the Laal Bridge point of Khuniapalong union of Ramu upazila in recent times.
Locals said the Laal Bridge point has become the choice of departure for the human traffickers due to lax security.
Previously Reju Bridge was the most preferred point. But ever since the setting up of a checkpost of Border Guard Bangladesh in that area, human traffickers moved to the Laal Bridge point.
Moreover, because of the current political unrest that has been keeping law enforcers on their toes, it has become easier for the human traffickers to do their work.
Laal Bridge point becomes active after sunset with the presence of middlemen and Malaysia goers. Human traffickers gather people from Khuniapalong union’s Goaliapalong, Taingakata, Dhowapalong, Noyapara and other places.
They are then escorted through the coastal forest and brought to Mangalapara near the Laal Bridge point. When darkness descends, Malaysia aspirants are sent away in fishing boats.
Though locals initially tried to stop the trafficking, they have been silenced by the police, who allegedly take Tk1,000 bribe per person from the traffickers.
Locals and relatives of those who had already gone to Malaysia named some people who are actively involved in human trafficking.
They are Abdul Gafur, Surat Alam, Md Jafar Alam, Syed Alam Bodu of Pechar Dwip and Mir Kashem of Himchhari.
These human traffickers are working under Abdul Karim, Abdullah, Badsha of Khuniapalong, Rustam Ali, Mahadul Haq Madu, Mozammel Haq and Akter Mia of Ukhia.
Locals said these people were well known in the area and had been accused in multiple human trafficking cases. However, police have yet to take any action against them.
When contacted, Sub Inspector Abdul Mannan, in-charge of Himchhari police outpost, denied the allegation of collaborating with the human traffickers.
He, however, acknowledged the increased human trafficking through Laal Bridge point, and said police and BGB personnel were patrolling the area.
Officer in-Charge of Saikul Ahmed Bhuiyan of Ramu police station said: “The allegations against us are baseless. Human trafficking may be happening in some places, but we cannot possibly patrol the huge coastal area with limited resources.”
He also added that police had been deployed at Laal Bridge point after they were informed about the trafficking.