5 youths accused of human trafficking

Jhenaidah Correspondent :

Several families in Jhenaidah have reportedly fallen victim to a human trafficking ring that promised overseas jobs but instead left their sons stranded in Cambodia under harsh conditions. At a press conference held at the Jhenaidah Press Club on Sunday afternoon, Halima Khatun, a distressed mother, alleged that her son Shahin was promised a job in Thailand but was instead trafficked and sold to a company in Cambodia.
According to her, Shahin is one of at least eight young men who were similarly deceived. Instead of being sent to promised destinations such as Thailand, they were trafficked to Cambodia, where they now face severe risks and inhumane working conditions.
Halima further claimed that despite filing cases against the traffickers, the accused individuals remain free and continue to operate, using their ill-gotten wealth to avoid legal consequences. As a result, the affected families are receiving no justice and are struggling both emotionally and financially.
Another victim’s family, the wife of Kuwait expatriate Altaf Hossain from Shakharidaha village in Harinakundu upazila, alleged that Fazlul Karim Fayzul of Holidhani village in Jhenaidah Sadar-along with his son Faisal Ahmed, wife Jahanara Khatun, and daughter-in-law Tarana Haque Rathi (20)-has defrauded numerous families by promising overseas employment, scamming them out of over one crore taka.
In her written statement, Halima Khatun named several other victims: Md. Akram Ali and Sifatullah from Nathkundu village, Md. Rahul Ahmed from Holidhani, Rana Mia from Protapur, Sabuj from Joyrampur, Nazib from Kolabaganpara, and Abdul Gaffar from Beradi. Each reportedly paid Tk 7 lakh to the traffickers, totaling Tk 56 lakh.
Three of the victims-Sabuj, Nazib, and Abdul Gaffar-managed to escape from Nepal Airport before being transported to Cambodia.
Victims Sabuj and Nazib reported that they were promised jobs as computer operators in Thailand. Trusting the traffickers, they took out loans of Tk 7 lakh each from the Jhenaidah Probashi Kallyan Bank. Instead of being sent to Thailand, they were sold to a company in Cambodia’s Sihanoukville under contracts demanding 18-hour workdays.
They now live in extremely difficult conditions and are unable to send money home, making it impossible to repay their loans. Their families have expressed deep concern over whether their sons will even be able to return home alive.
As the families grieve and continue their fight for justice, they call on the government and law enforcement agencies to take immediate action against the traffickers and to bring their sons safely back to Bangladesh.