Police detain four Rohingya with links to suspected human trafficking ring

A Bangladeshi suspect manages to escape during the raid, police say

Detectives of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested four Rohingya, including a teenager, from a room at Hotel New Arambagh in Motijheel.

According to the Detective Branch (DB), some of the detainees, held on Thursday afternoon, had been brought to Dhaka by a “trafficking ring” for possible smuggling abroad.

The arrestees are Md Ferdous, 26, Nuru Bibi Nur Akter, 19, Umme Kulsum, 20, and a 16-year-old boy.

All reportedly came from different Rohingya camps in Teknaf.

The DB said it has yet to confirm which detainee was being “trafficked” by whom.

Acting on a tip-off, officers launched the operation and apprehended the four as they tried to flee.

Abdul Khalek, a Bangladeshi member of the alleged trafficking ring, escaped during the raid.

Police seized two visa printouts and four mobile phones from the suspects.

Based on initial interrogations, Md Tariqul Islam, deputy commissioner of the DB Cyber and Special Crime Division (South), said: “Several of those arrested have longstanding links with human trafficking networks.

“A case has been filed under the Human Trafficking Prevention Act at Motijheel Police Station.”