CID Arrests Two Members of Human Trafficking Ring for Smuggling and Torturing a Man in Libya After Luring Him with Promises of Italy
CID Arrests Two Members of Human Trafficking Ring for Smuggling and Torturing a Man in Libya After Luring Him with Promises of Italy
MD Babul, Bangladesh Correspondent
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police has arrested two members of a human trafficking ring. They are accused of taking money from a young man under the pretext of sending him to Italy, smuggling him to Libya via Egypt, holding him captive there, subjecting him to physical and mental torture, and demanding a ransom.
A specialized CID team arrested them on October 5, 2026, around 5:00 PM, following a raid in front of the Civil Aviation Welfare Market at the Ashkona Hajj Camp (under the jurisdiction of the Airport Police Station in Dhaka). The arrested individuals are Md. Atiqur Rahman Thomas (32)—son of Md. Abdul Matin and Mst. Aktar Banu; permanent address: Boria, Pirganj Police Station, Rangpur; currently a tenant at Rubel’s house in Gawair, Dakshinkhan Police Station, Dhaka—and Md. Badiul Alam Bhuiyan alias Belal (54)—son of the late Shamsul Alam Bhuiyan and the late Jyotsna Begum; permanent address: Kamalpur, Kasba Police Station, Brahmanbaria; currently residing at House No. 154, College Road, Ashkona, Dakshinkhan Police Station, Dhaka.
According to sources, the victim—a resident of Senbagh, Noakhali—had been working in Saudi Arabia for nearly three years. While returning home, he met a fellow passenger on the flight. Through that passenger, he was introduced to a member of the human trafficking ring. The ring members lured him with the promise of safely sending him to Italy via Libya. An agreement was reached to send him to Italy in exchange for 1.2 million (12 lakh) Taka. In accordance with the agreement, the victim submitted his passport to an office in Ashkona, Dhaka, on April 5, 2026, and paid an advance of 130,000 Taka. Subsequently, on April 7, he was sent first to New Delhi, India, and from there to Colombo, Sri Lanka. After staying there for about 16 days, additional money was extracted from his family in stages under various pretexts. He was then sent to Cairo, Egypt, via Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the allegations, a member of the trafficking ring took him from Cairo airport to a residence and held him captive for approximately five days. Later, citing a prior agreement, an additional 6,000 US dollars was demanded from and paid by him. In this manner, a total of approximately 1,267,000 Taka was collected from the victim and his family through cash, bKash, and bank transfers.
The victim was then transported from Egypt to Libya by car, traversing rugged desert terrain and mountainous border areas. There, an associate of the ring detained him in a so-called “game room” and subjected him to physical and mental torture. Eventually, Libyan law enforcement agencies conducted a raid, detained him along with others, and sent them to prison. While he was in prison, a further 600,000 Taka was demanded from his family in exchange for his release.
Subsequently, Libyan police detained him and repatriated him to Bangladesh on October 16, 2024. Upon returning to the country, he filed a case as the plaintiff at Airport Police Station (Case No. 21, dated October 5, 2026) under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026, citing sections 6(1), 6(2), 7, 8(1), 8(2), 14, 15(1), 15(2), 18, 19, and 22.
After assuming responsibility for the investigation, the CID verified the data and utilized intelligence information to identify the locations of the accused individuals involved in the case. Subsequently, a raid was conducted, and the accused named in the FIR—Md. Atiqur Rahman Thomas and Md. Badiul Alam Bhuiyan (alias Belal)—were arrested.
The two arrested individuals have been produced before the honorable court with a request for their interrogation. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
