2 arrested in connection with deaths of 8 Bangladeshis in Mediterranean

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police has arrested two people on charges of involvement with a human trafficking ring in connection with the deaths of eight Bangladeshis in a boat sinking while attempting to go to Italy illegally by crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

The arrested persons are Md Rafiqul Islam Rafiq Bagha, 54, and Md Amir Hossain Swapan, 38. A team of the CID’s human trafficking unit arrested them from Takerhat Bazar area under Rajoir Police Station of Madaripur on Wednesday (September 16).

This information was given in a press release signed by CID Special Police Super (Media) Md Sufi Ullah on Thursday (September 17).

CID informed that at different times from December 2023 to February 2024 attempts were made to send several Bangladeshi citizens from Libya to Italy by sea. At that time eight Bangladeshis died when the boat sank off the coast of Tunisia. Later the bodies of the deceased were brought back to the country under government management and handed over to the relatives.

In the incident of the case the only surviving victim named the relevant persons and addresses in the statement given before the court. After that CID took up the investigation.

In the investigation CID came to know that an organised human trafficking ring took a huge amount of money from the families of the victims by showing the temptation of sending them to Italy legally. Later attempts were made to send them illegally from Libya to Italy by sea on an engine-driven trawler. At that time eight Bangladeshi citizens died when the trawler sank off the coast of Tunisia.

According to CID’s version, during interrogation the arrested persons admitted to collecting money from the family of the deceased victim Rasel Sheikh, 19, delivering that money to other members of the human trafficking ring and assisting in the process of sending him abroad.

The two arrested have been sent to court. There is a case against Rafiqul Islam under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act at Rajoir Police Station of Madaripur.

CID informed that the investigation of the case is currently under them. Investigation is under way to identify the other members involved with the arrested persons, the absconding accused and the local and foreign collaborators of the ring as well as to find out the possible victims.

Earlier two more accused named Gurudas Barai, 45, and Md Motaleb Matbar, 68, were arrested in the same case and sent to court.

CID has called on citizens not to hand over money or passports without proper verification by falling for the temptation of any person or institution in the case of employment, migration or travel abroad. The agency has also advised following the government-approved legal process and verifying the legality of the relevant person or institution in the case of going abroad.