Dhaka, Mar 19 (V7N) – A group of 18 Bangladeshi nationals, who were abducted by human traffickers while attempting to travel from Dubai to Thailand, have safely returned to Bangladesh. They arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 1:45 AM on Tuesday (March 18).

The victims were taken to a detention camp in the Myawaddy-Mesot region, located near the Thailand-Myanmar border. The area, known for human trafficking operations, has been a hotspot for criminal networks exploiting migrant workers.

The returnees include:

  • Omar Faruk, Rashedul Islam Rifat, Alif Imran, Mohammad Raihan Subhan, SK Arman, Pavel Chowdhury, Monir Hossain, Ismail Hossain, Nazim Uddin, Zahir Uddin, Tanvir Ahmed Rafi, Tainur Khalilullah, Saymon Hossain Abir, Ujjwal Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Shanto, Mohammad Kaiser Hossain, Shah Alam, and Akash Ali.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon was alerted after one Bangladeshi escaped from the detention camp and took refuge in Yangon, Myanmar for about a month. He informed embassy officials about the situation, prompting diplomatic efforts to rescue the remaining captives.

The Myanmar government assured cooperation but emphasized that the Myawaddy-Mesot region is highly restricted, making direct intervention difficult. They advised that the Thai government’s support was essential for the rescue mission.

Following this, the Bangladesh Embassy in Yangon reached out to its counterpart in Thailand, which then formally requested assistance from the Thai government. After receiving approval, the 18 Bangladeshis were rescued and transferred to Bangkok before returning home.

According to diplomatic sources, similar human trafficking operations have affected nationals from multiple countries:

  • 6,000 Chinese citizens
  • 400 Indonesians
  • 285 Indian citizens

These individuals were rescued from detention camps along the Myanmar border and repatriated.

Recent cases have revealed that many Bangladeshis have been deceived by fraudulent job offers in Vietnam and Hong Kong, traveling on visit visas with false promises of employment.

Diplomats strongly advise verifying any job offers involving travel to Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, or Indonesia by sea, as many such schemes have been linked to human trafficking networks.

This latest rescue highlights the ongoing dangers faced by migrant workers and the importance of diplomatic intervention in combating human trafficking.

END/MSS/AJ