CID arrested Mohammad Asem, 35, a teacher of Tejgaon College, accused of human trafficking, confirmed special police SP of CID, Mollah Nazrul Islam.
However, Asem is now out on bail!
”Asem’s father has been living in Malaysia for a long period and, consequently, Asem became involved in trafficking; they sent hundreds of people to Malyasia illegally by sea via Cox’s Bazaar and Teknaf,” said the CID officer.
In Malaysia, they used to keep people captive and demand ransom form their relatives in Bangladesh, he added.
The officer also said that the money accumulated from this business is kept in several accounts belonging to him, his mother and relatives.
CID also believes that many Bangladeshis died while on their way to Malaysia while many are still missing.
“This syndicate works is several layers with few groups operating from Thailand and Malaysia.”
In 2014, members of this syndicate trafficked Masud from Sirajganj and demanded Tk. 3 lakh 10 thousand; the young man’s father deposited the amount at the Mohakhali branch of Islami Bank.
However, when Masud was not released after the payment, his father lodged a case which eventually led the CID to arrest the aberrant teacher.
Mollah Nazrul says: “Asem is the king pin of this international trafficking ring in Bangladesh; his brother and father are both in Malaysia and he began the unlawful trade in 2010.”
They used to get people through brokers who paid for their trips to Malaysia in advance. After payment, these unsuspecting victims were taken to Teknaf and, on trawlers to Thailand, ending up in a jungle camp.
There the people are kept prisoners, tortured and forced to ask for ransom from relatives in Bangladesh, informed the CID officer.
Those who fail to pay the ransom are killed in the jungle, he added.
The CID has found several accounts belonging to the syndicate in Teknaf based banks which are used to accept ransom money.
Asem has also opened a recruiting agency in Dhaka called ACM Corporation with the proceeds from his illegal human trade.
Hailing from Teknaf, and living in East Rajabazaar, Asem’s other identity is lecturer of BBA at Tejgaon College.
CID arrested him five days ago, but Asem has come out on bail on the third day.