Trafficked, 8 Tangail men in Indian jail for 9 months
Eight people from Mirzapur and Delduar upazilas under the district have been languishing in jail at Dinajpur Balughat in India for the last nine months after brokers trafficked them there in the name of sending to Maldives for job.
The victims are Ripon Miah, 30, Mohammad Sabuj, 26, Babul Miah, 35, and Joynal Miah, 43, of Fotepur village, Mohammad Sohel, 28, of Adabari village, Julhas Miah, 35, of Mohera village, Alamgir Hossain, 26, of Dhalla village in Mirzapur upazila, and Sujon Miah, 26, of Kamanna village in Delduar upazila.
Local brokers Nazrul Islam, 45, and Mohammad Ali, 40, of Thalpara village under Fotepur union of Mirzapur upazila took Tk 2 lakh from each of the eight people two years ago, giving assurance of sending them to Maldives for job.
They, however, continued dilly-dallying for months showing different reasons.
When local village leaders pressured Nazrul and Ali in this regard, they took the eight people to an office at Banani in Dhaka on August 14 last year.
They sent the family members and relatives who came with the eight people at the office back to their houses, saying that the eight will fly to Maldives at night.
About three months later, the fortune seekers informed their families about their imprisonment in India.
Joynal's brother Johirul went to India and became confirmed about the eight people's confinement there.
Later, several arbitrations were held in the area led by Fotepur UP Chairman Humayun Talukder in this regard.
“As we pressured broker Nazrul to arrange bringing the eight people back to the country, he took time till June 15 next for the purpose. Meanwhile police arrested him on May 22 and sent him to Tangail District Jail," said the UP chairman.
Police arrested Nazrul as Sirajul Islam, a relative of three of the eight victims, filed a case on May 21 under Human Trafficking Prevention Act, said Nazmul Haque Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge of Mirzapur Police Station.
“Police are quizzing broker Nazrul after taking him in remand. We are also talking at different levels to coordinate the process for bringing the eight people back to the country,” he added.
Meanwhile, another broker Mohammad Ali remains absconding.