Fortune seekers held captive in Myanmar, Malaysia

Allured by the promise of a better life in Malaysia, the victims are first taken to Teknaf using public transport. They are then transferred to Myanmar via small fishing dinghies manned by "Rohingya" boatmen, only to be held captive by the syndicate until their families agree to pay heavy ransoms.

A transnational syndicate, reportedly led by Rohingya members, has emerged, utilising a new route to traffic individuals from Bangladesh to Malaysia via Myanmar.

Rab yesterday arrested three members of the racket from Narayanganj and Narsingdi on Friday while investigating a trafficking case filed by Abul Kalam Azad with Araihazar Police Station following the tragic demise of his younger brother Jahirul Islam.

The arrested are Md Ismail, 45, ringleader of the syndicate's Bangladesh part, and his associates, Jasim, 35, and Md Elahi, 50.

For this perilous journey, a preliminary deal is struck, involving a payment of Tk 3.2 lakh from the aspiring migrants. The payment is to be made once they reach their destination.

Once in Malaysia, the syndicate members demand a second ransom from the victims' families. They are released only after the second ransom is paid. However, they are left to struggle without proper documentation and lack of employment opportunities.

Upon arriving in Myanmar, the victims are handed over to a syndicate, which sends videos of them being tortured to their families.

Following the payment of ransom, the fortune seekers are transported to Malaysia through larger sea vessels, where they are handed over to the counterpart syndicate.

Once in Malaysia, the syndicate members demand a second ransom from the victims' families. They are released only after the second ransom is paid. However, they are left to struggle without proper documentation and lack of employment opportunities.

During a media interaction at Rab's media centre in Karwan Bazar, Azad recounted the harrowing ordeal experienced by his family.

They took Tk 4.20 lakh as ransom in the first phase, and then again 2,000 Malaysian Ringgit, said Azad.

"But my brother died. Our entire family is now struggling," said Azhar.

Jahirul has a one and a half-year-old son and a seven-month-old daughter.

Jahirul's case is not an isolated incident, said Rab.

The syndicate enticed 22 individuals, including Jahirul, with promises of a brighter future in Malaysia, revealed Khandaker Al Moin, director of Rab's legal and media wing.

Quoting Ismail, Moin said the syndicate operated by transporting these individuals from Teknaf to Myanmar using two fishing boats. However, one of these boats, carrying 19 individuals, was intercepted by the Myanmar Coast Guard before reaching the coast.

"They were subsequently handed over to the Myanmar police and are currently held at Mawlmyine Prison there," said Moin.

He assured that efforts are underway to repatriate these 19 individuals to Bangladesh with support from the foreign ministry.

Despite the interception, the syndicate managed to take three individuals, including Jahirul, into their torture cell at Akyab in Myanmar.

Subjected to brutal torture, Jahirul passed away in a Malaysian hospital on May 24. His body was repatriated to Bangladesh after a week.

A Rohingya individual named Jamal leads the syndicate in Myanmar, while Rashidul is at the helm of the syndicate's operations in Malaysia, said Moin.

Investigations have revealed that Ismail, the arrested ringleader, was in Malaysia from 2001 to 2005 and came into contact with Myanmar nationals Rashidul and Jamal during this period.

Upon returning to Bangladesh, Ismail formed a syndicate consisting of 10-12 members to support Rashidul and Jamal. The syndicate has been actively engaging in such activities since 2013, he said.

"Rashidul has been residing in Malaysia for the past 25 years and is deeply involved with this trafficking syndicate," he added.

Jashim and Elahi played a pivotal role in sourcing fortune seekers from various regions and funneling them to Ismail's operations.

"We are diligently tracing other members of the syndicate to uncover further details about additional victims and their whereabouts. Currently, we lack information about two other individuals who were with Jahirul," he concluded.