Seven Bangladeshis, Including Two Women, Arrested While Preparing to Enter India Illegally Through Jaflong Border.

Naeem Ahmed, Jaintapur-Gowainghat Sylhet. Police have arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals, including two women, while they were preparing to illegally enter India through the Jaflong border in Gowainghat, Sylhet. They were arrested around 11:00 am on Tuesday (September 22) from Naljuri Baraitola village under East Jaflong Union of Gowainghat upazila. After a case was filed under the relevant laws, they were produced before a court on Wednesday (September 23) afternoon. The arrested individuals are Md. Saiful (21) of Bakultala village in Bagerhat; Md. Rabbi Shikder (17) of Bagmara village under Digalia police station in Khulna; Md. Kawsar (16) of Kaziganj Mogla village; Md. Omar Faruk (18) of Bakultala village in Bagerhat; Md. Parvez Hasan (21) of Nishanbaria village under Morrelganj police station; Shampa (24) of Bhambag village in Kalia upazila of Narail; and Munni (16) of Sutarpara village in Jatrabari, Dhaka. According to police and the victims, they initially came to the Jaflong area through an unidentified broker after being lured with promises of high-paying jobs. The two women were allegedly promised domestic jobs in India with monthly salaries of Tk 50,000, while the five young men were promised jobs at different companies with monthly salaries of Tk 35,000. Later, a man named Mizan took them to the house of Abdul Mannan in Naljuri Baraitola village. They were staying there with the intention of crossing the border illegally and entering India. Acting on a tip-off, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ali of the Tamabil Police Outpost under Gowainghat Police Station, along with accompanying officers, conducted an operation at the location. The seven individuals were arrested and taken into police custody. Following the legal process, they were subsequently produced before the court. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gowainghat Police Station, Md. Omar Faruk, confirmed the incident and said the seven individuals had been staying in Naljuri Baraitola village with the intention of illegally entering India through a broker after being lured with promises of high-paying jobs. He further said that police efforts are underway to identify and arrest the brokers involved in the incident.