Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) today claimed to have rescued four displaced Myanmar nationals and detained two alleged members of a human trafficking gang in Dhaka.

On information, a team of Rab-3 conducted a drive in Khilgaon and Keraniganj areas around 9:00pm last night and detained a “human trafficker” and a “broker” of an active human trafficking syndicate, said Rab-3 Commanding Officer Lt Col Emranul Hasan.

The detainees were identified as “human trafficker” Abdul Hamid, 30, of Cox’s Bazar, and “broker” Md Riyad Hossain, 34, of Keraniganj, he said.

The law enforcers also rescued four displaced Myanmar women from being trafficked to Saudi Arabia. They were: Ruma Akter, 18, Bushra Akter, 19, and Sabekunnahar, 18, of Buchi Dong area of Myanmar and Hasina Begum, 25, of Baggunah area of Myanmar’s Maungdaw.

The Myanmar nationals fled persecution in their country and took refuge at Balukhali camp in Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar.

At the camp, they were lured by two brokers – Jahid, 37, and Mominul, 35, – to go to Saudi Arabia, and were helped by the duo to escape from the camp early this month and then took shelter at Hamid’s rented house in Dhaka’s Khilgaon.  

In primary interrogation, Hamid confessed of his involvement in human trafficking.

Based on information provided by him, the Rab-3 team conducted another drive in Keraniganj Police Station area and detained Riyad, and recovered fake birth registration and passport application forms, a huge stash of fake passports, and one computer from him.

Riyad, the owner of a photocopy shop beside Keraniganj Passport Office, also confessed of his involvement saying he had been providing fake birth certificates and forged copies of NIDs for the trafficking victims for their passport applications.

Steps were being taken to return the rescued four Myanmar nationals to the refugee camp while legal actions were on against the detainees, the Rab-3 official added.