Locals in Ruma, Bandarban, have handed over a Rohingya youth, Mohammad Alam, 22, for extorting money by impersonating as a transgender.
The arrested person, known also as Ruposhi Hijra, has been extorting money from different shops for the last two months. Since transgender people are often declined work, people all over Bangladesh usually give them money for free and Alam exploited this custom.
The local shop keepers gave him money but were suspicious when Alam’s demands became regular.
Later, the truth came out when police arrested him at the request of the shop owners.
Alam confessed that he came to this fraudulent operation after talking to another transgender called Shyamoli who allegedly said that if he could raise Taka five thousand then he (Alam) would be allowed to keep two thousand.
Alam also said that there are many transgender or hijra impersonators who deceive people to swindle money.
Ruma thana sub-inspector, Mohammad Khorshed, said: “according to existing laws, Alam was sent to the Teknaf Rohingya camp via the district magistrate’s office.”