Two separate cases have been filed accusing 35 people of their alleged involvement in trafficking Bangladeshis to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.
On May 9, a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, near Zarzis, Tunisia. Seventy-five migrants were on board—54 of them Bangladeshi—and 40 of them are feared dead.
Enamul Haque Talukdar, 46—who was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Dhaka on Friday—was accused in both cases.
Mofiz Uddin—whose brother Abdul Aziz died in the boat capsize—filed a case in Fenchuganj police station in Sylhet early on Friday. The case accused 20 people.
Fenchuganj police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Bashar Mohammad Badrujjaman said, “The case was filed on charges of human trafficking and holding captives for ransom.”
Enamul is the owner of New Eyahiya Overseas, a travel agency in Sylhet’s Zindabazar that RAB said is part of the syndicate responsible for trafficking Bangladeshis to Europe.
Another case was filed at Bishwanath police station, also in Sylhet, citing similar charges.
The case was filed by Rezaul Islam, brother of Redwanul Islam — who was duped by human traffickers.
Rafiqul Islam, 50, is the primary accused in the case.
Rafiqul went into hiding, along with his family, after the case was filed.
Bishwanath police station OC Shamsuddoha said, “We will investigate the matter and arrest those responsible.”
On May 9, two boats—one carrying 50, and another 75, people—set out simultaneously from Zouara, Libya. One possibly reached Italy, while the other capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said of the 54 Bangladeshi migrants onboard, 14 were rescued. The Foreign Ministry, on Wednesday, released a list of 39 Bangladeshis who went missing in the incident.