Trafficking to Malaysia and Embezzlement under Pretext of Sending to Italy, Two Arrested, Including Ringleader

Syed Bashir Ahmed, Chief Reporter. The Narsingdi Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested two members of a human trafficking ring including the mastermind on charges of trafficking a victim to Malaysia, issuing a fake visa, and embezzling approximately 2.2 million (22 lakh) Taka under the pretext of sending him to Italy. Dr. SM Farhad Hossain, Superintendent of Police (SP) for PBI Narsingdi, confirmed the matter on Tuesday (October 6). He stated that Shimul Chandra Das (37), a resident of Narsingdi Sadar Upazila, and his relative Subodh Chandra Das (31)from the Titarkul area of ​​Gazipur had entered into an agreement with the victim, Abdur Rouf (also a resident of Narsingdi Sadar), to send him to Italy for a sum of 2.15 million (21.5 lakh) Taka. Following the execution of the agreement on December 1, 2024, a total of 2.198 million (21.98 lakh) Taka was collected from the victim in several installments. Subsequently, on June 4, 2025, instead of sending the victim to Italy, the accused sent him to Malaysia using forged documents. Upon his arrival at the Malaysian airport on June 8, immigration authorities identified the visa as fake and deported the victim back to Bangladesh. After returning home, when the victim demanded a refund, the accused began stalling and later flatly denied ever receiving the money. Farhad Hossain added that the victim, Abdur Rouf, filed a case as the plaintiff at Narsingdi Model Police Station (Case No. 09, dated 03/10/2026; Sections 6/7/8/22 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2026, read with Sections 323/506(2)/34 of the Penal Code). As the case fell under PBI's jurisdiction, PBI Narsingdi District took over the investigation on its own initiative on October 5, 2026, and Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Yasin was entrusted with the responsibility of the investigation. The Superintendent of Police stated that the ring's mastermind, Subodh Chandra Das, was arrested during a raid in the Titarkul area of ​​Gazipur at 12:30 AM on October 6. Subsequently, acting on information provided by him, an accomplice named Shimul Chandra Das was arrested at 3:30 AM that same day from a rented house at 'Habildar's House' in Tauyadi, Narsingdi. He added that the arrested individuals later confessed to their crimes and gave statements in court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The PBI is continuing its operations to arrest the other accused persons involved in the case.