20 rescued while being trafficked to Nepal

Detectives in separate drives have arrested an alleged human trafficker and rescued 20 youths, aged about 17 to 25, in Joypurhat district town.

The victims hail from Gaibandha and Narsinghdi districts, said DB police.

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The arrestee is Md Lavlu Mia of Chakdadra village in Sadar upazila, said Mahfuzur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Joypurhat DB police.

Acting on a tip-off, the law enforcers raided Sourav Residential Hotel on Thana Road in the town around 11:30pm on Friday and arrested Lavlu.

They also rescued nine youths from the spot while they were being trafficked to Nepal, said the OC.

Arrested Lavlu, a member of the trafficking gang. Photo: Star

The victims said they were brought to the hotel with a promise of giving lucrative jobs in Nepal.

In another drive, the DB men rescued 11 other youths from Prithvi Complex, another residential hotel, in the area around 11:30am yesterday.

However, the human traffickers managed to flee the scene, sensing the presence of the law enforcers.

 One of the victims, Alam Amin, son of Hiran Mollah of Anampur village in Narsinghdi Sadar upazila, said he paid Tk 40,000 for going to Nepal as Lavlu promised to give them a good job there.

A case was filed, accusing Lavlu Mia in this connection, said OC Mahfuzur.