18 Bangladeshis return home from Myanmar scam centre

Shariful Hasan, Associate Director of BRAC’s Migration and Youth Platform, shared that the families of the victims reached out to BRAC for assistance. In response, BRAC coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, the CID, and the Bangladesh Embassy in Thailand to rescue the victims.

The returnees include Omar Faruk, Rasheduzzaman Islam, Md Alif, Raihan Sobhan, Sheikh Arman, Md Pavel Chowdhury, Monir Hossain, Md Ismail Hossain, Md Nizam Uddin, Zahir Uddin, Tanveer Akand Rafi, Towanur Khalilullah, Md Syamon Hossain, Md Ujjal Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Md Kaisar Hossain, Md Shah Alam, and Md Akash Ali.

Md Alif, one of the survivors from Chattogram, recounted his ordeal: "I was working on a ship in Dubai when I was lured with the promise of a high-paying data entry job. Instead, I was taken to Thailand, and then trafficked to a location at the Thai-Myanmar border. I was held hostage with many others, forced to work in the scam center at gunpoint, enduring abuse for six months. I had no choice but to comply to survive."

Trafficking Networks and Ongoing Efforts
CID Additional Superintendent of Police, Mostafizur Rahman, revealed that Iftekharul Islam Rony, a key trafficker involved in the operation, is facing charges for human trafficking in eight separate cases across different police stations. He was arrested on January 18 at Chattogram Airport, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend another key trafficker, Abdullah Al Noman.

Shariful Hasan from BRAC also highlighted that cyber scams are a particularly insidious form of human trafficking. Traffickers often target individuals by offering fake, high-paying job opportunities—such as computer operators, typists, or call center agents—through deceptive websites, emails, and messaging platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Once victims are tricked, they are held against their will, forced to participate in scams under threat of violence.

Countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia have become hotspots for these scams, leading to government-issued warnings about the risks of traveling there. Raising awareness of such dangers is vital, particularly for those considering working abroad.

Bangladesh’s Ongoing Fight Against Trafficking
The safe return of these 18 Bangladeshis underscores the importance of vigilance in combatting human trafficking. Authorities continue to investigate these cases and crack down on traffickers, while organizations like BRAC work to support victims and raise awareness about the growing threat of online and international scams.