2 travel agents put on remand

A Sylhet court yesterday granted remand of a travel agent and his associate in connection with human trafficking which led to the tragedy at the Mediterranean Sea on May 10 this year that left scores of Bangladeshis dead. 

Sylhet’s Senior Judicial Magistrate Layla Meher Banu sanctioned six days’ remand for travel agent Enamul Hoque, and five days for his associate Abdur Razzak, after a brief hearing, said Shahidul Islam, inspector of Criminal Investigation Department (CID)’s Economy Crime Squad.

He said that the CID asked for ten days’ remand for both accused.

Bilal Hosain, a survivor of the boat capsize who recently returned from Tunisia, also deposited witness to the court, Shahidul said.

Enamul Hoque, 45, is the owner of New Yeahia Overseas in Sylhet city. Abdur Razzak, 34, hails from Brahmanbaria.

A rubber boat loaded with 84 illegal migrants was moving from Libya to Italy when it capsized near Tunisian coast at the Mediterranean Sea on the night of May 10, leaving 39 Bangladeshis missing.

On May 16, missing Abdul Aziz’s brother Mofiz Uddin filed a case with Fenchuganj Police Station accusing Enamul, Razzak and three others along with 10-15 unnamed.

The same day, another case was filed with Bishwanath Police Station by missing Rezwanul Islam Khokon’s brother Rezaul Islam, accusing the duo and three others along with several unnamed. Both the cases were filed under Human Trafficking Prevention Act and Money Laundering Prevention Act. The next day, Rab arrested three people including Enamul and Razzak from Dhaka.