2 linked to trafficking of 26 Bangladeshis killed in Libya remanded

A Dhaka court today placed two members of a gang -- linked to the trafficking of 26 Bangladeshis killed in Libya on May 28 -- on a seven-day fresh remand each, in a case filed with Paltan Police Station.

The accused are: Zahangir Hossain (40) of Shibchar in Madaripur, and Badsha Fakir (34) of Bhanga in Faridpur.

Metropolitan Magistrate Debdash Chandra Adhikary passed the order after SM Gaffarul Alam, an inspector of the detective branch of police and also the investigation officer of the case, produced them before his court with a 10-day fresh remand prayer.

Earlier on June 8, another Dhaka court placed them on a five-day remand each.

In the remand prayer, the IO said the two gave important information about the trafficking which was being verified.

Moreover, another accused, Mohsin Howlader, on June 7 gave a confessional statement about the involvement of the accused in trafficking people to Libya. So they need to be remanded again to gather more information about the incident, the official added.

Defence, however, submitted bail petitions along with cancellation of the remand prayer.

After hearing both the sides, the magistrate rejected their bail petition and placed them on a seven-day remand each.

The case was filed with Paltan Police Station on June 4 against 16 traffickers -- including Zahangir and Badsha -- for their alleged involvement with trafficking.

With these two, a total of 39 people including Kamal Uddin alias Haji Kamal, the ring leader of the human trafficking gang, were arrested so far in 22 cases filed across the country over human trafficking to Libya.