The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police has arrested two alleged members of a human trafficking ring accused of luring two Bangladeshi youths to Cambodia with promises of lucrative jobs, selling them to scam centres and forcing them to engage in online fraud.
The suspects, identified as Md Shawon Molla, 23, and Md Sakib Sarker, 26, were arrested during a raid in the capital’s Paltan area around 1:00pm on Tuesday.
CID’s Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Md Sufi Ullah confirmed the matter.
According to the CID, the two youths travelled to Cambodia after being promised well-paid jobs and financial security. Their families paid around Tk6 lakh each to arrange their overseas employment, hoping the youths would improve their financial circumstances.
However, their hopes were shattered after they arrived in Cambodia.
The CID said their passports were confiscated soon after their arrival, and they were sold to a scam centre for $5,000. They were then forced to carry out online fraud and allegedly subjected to physical and mental torture if they refused to work or made even minor mistakes.
The youths were not allowed to leave the facility voluntarily or return home safely.
After the two managed to contact their families, the scam centre authorities demanded a ransom of $5,000 for their release. Their families arranged the money in the hope of securing their freedom, but their ordeal continued even after they were released.
The traffickers allegedly took control of the youths again and collected additional money from their families for return air tickets. The expenses of sending them abroad, paying the ransom and arranging their return pushed the families into severe financial hardship.
The two youths subsequently spent nearly two months at a local hotel in Cambodia. They eventually contacted BRAC Migration Centre online and received assistance in arranging their return to Bangladesh. They returned home on September 3 after enduring prolonged confinement, abuse and uncertainty.
The CID said a case was filed with Paltan Police Station on October 26 under Sections 6, 7, 8, 9 and 22 of the Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Prevention and Suppression Act, 2026.
Investigators identified the suspects based on evidence gathered during the investigation and intelligence information. Shawon and Sakib, both named in the case statement, were subsequently arrested.
Further legal proceedings against the accused are underway, while the investigation continues.
