6 kids rescued from forced begging, gang leader held

Police rescued six children, engaged in forced begging at Kalatula in Bahubal upazila under Habiganj district and arrested the main perpetrator yesterday.

The arrestee is Rasel Miah, 25, son of Abdul Wadud of Phultali area in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj.

The rescued children are Sohag, 10, son of Kala Miah, Junaid, 16, son of Kachon Miah of Giripara village, Naim, 9, son of Abdul Latif of Kurerpar village, Rejaul, 12, son of Robiul Islam in Sekendanagar village, and Boruj Miah, 13, son of Taher Miah of Bojendrapur village in Tarail upazila of Kishoreganj district.

Rasel, also manager of SR Residential Hotel in Shayestaganj area of Habiganj, and his gang took the six children from their families one year ago, saying that they would be admitted to a madrasa, Jadav Kumar Bhadra, superintendent of police of Habiganj, told a press conference at his office yesterday noon.

"The children were shifted to SR Hotel and used for begging. They paid Rasel gang Tk 300/400 daily each. If anyone failed to meet the demand in time, the gang punished them," he said.

As three of those children started begging at Kalatula in Bahubal upazila yesterday, some locals inquired into them and came to know about their plight. Then they informed police.

"We arrested Rasel and rescued six children. A case has been filed against Rasel gang," said Abdullah Al-Mamun, sub inspector of Bahubal Police Station.