Human traffickers hold 6 Cumilla youths in Libya
Six young men from Manoharganj upazila in Cumilla have allegedly been held hostage by human traffickers in Libya while attempting to reach Italy through irregular migration routes.
The traffickers are demanding a total ransom of Tk 15 million (Tk 1.5 crore) from their families for their release.
Family members allege that the victims are being subjected to inhumane torture after they failed to pay the demanded ransom.
They have filed a complaint with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking government intervention to secure the release of their sons.
The victims have been identified as Shahadat Hossain (20), son of Anwar Hossain; Manikul Islam (20), son of Mahbubur Rahman; Md. Sohel (27), son of Harun Rashid; Taj Mohammad (25), son of Chhabu Mia; and Faisal (20), son of Siddiqur Rahman-all from Dishaband village under Khila Union. The sixth victim is Mehedi Hasan (21), son of Shah Alam of Betiyapara village under Lakshmanpur Union.
Mahbubur Rahman, father of victim Manikul Islam, said his brother Shamsul Alam paid Tk 2 million (20 lakh) about nine months ago to a local broker, who promised to send his son to Italy through Libya.
According to him, after reaching Libya, Manikul was handed over to another trafficking syndicate instead of being sent onward to Italy.
“My son is now being held hostage by traffickers and tortured for ransom,” Mahbubur Rahman said, breaking down in tears.
A similar allegation was made by Shah Alam, father of Mehedi Hasan. He said he paid Tk 1.8 million (18 lakh) about eight months ago through the same intermediary to send his son to Italy.
Instead, Mehedi was taken to Libya, where he is now reportedly being tortured by traffickers demanding additional ransom.
Family members alleged that the six youths were kept in Libya for nearly eight months before being handed over to another trafficking group. Over the past 15 to 20 days, they said, the victims have been subjected to brutal torture.
The traffickers are reportedly demanding Tk 2.7 million (27 lakh) for each victim. As the families have failed to arrange the money, videos showing the victims being tortured have been sent to them via IMO and WhatsApp to pressure them into paying the ransom.
The disturbing videos have left the families devastated and helpless.
Local residents said that after the torture videos became widely known in the area around 10 to 12 days ago, Shamsul Alam, the alleged intermediary, along with other members of his family, went into hiding.
The families also claimed that Manikul, who had earlier maintained contact from Libya, has stopped answering their phone calls since being handed over to the traffickers.
The victims’ families appealed to the government to take urgent steps through diplomatic channels to rescue their sons and bring them home safely.
When contacted, Manoharganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Maksud Ahmed said the police had no specific information about the alleged trafficking route or the individuals involved.”If we receive a complaint, we will investigate the matter and take legal action accordingly,” he said.
