BARISHAL, Bangladesh — A group of young men from Agailjhara upazila in this district sold land and took on loans and debts to pay large sums to traffickers in hopes of reaching Italy for work, authorities said. Their dream stalled in Libya before they reached Europe. Lured by the promise of jobs through a trafficking ring, they were taken to Libya and tortured while held hostage. A few have returned home after paying ransom, but nine remain in captivity.
Three separate cases have been filed in connection with the trafficking, abuse and ransom demands, naming five suspects and an additional 34 unidentified people. The named suspects are Jamal Molla, son of the late Ayub Ali of West Dumuria village in the upazila; his two Italy-based sons Zakir Molla and Sakib Molla; and Jamal Molla’s two brothers-in-law, Babul Beparee and Habul Beparee, also known as Habul Member, sons of the late Budai Beparee of East Dumuria village.
Mehedi Hasan Khan of Chhoto Dumuria village in Rajihar union of the upazila filed the cases at the Barishal Human Trafficking Crime Suppression Tribunal. The tribunal judge admitted the complaints and ordered the officer-in-charge of Agailjhara police station to register the cases.
Suspects Jamal Molla and his two brothers-in-law, Babul Beparee and Habul Beparee, are currently in Barishal Central Jail. The investigation is moving slowly because Jamal’s two sons are in Italy, according to reports.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report