DHAKA, July 12, 2020 (BSS) – The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested the kingpin and two members of a gang involved in trafficking girls abroad and later forcing them into prostitution.
The arrestees are ringleader of the gang Md Azam Khan and his associates — Moyna and Md Alamin Hossain alias Diamond.
Imtiaz Ahmed, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and CID Crime Chief, disclosed the information at a press briefing at its Maligangh office here today.
He said by luring young girls with promises of better jobs in Dubai, the syndicate has trafficked over 1,000 girls to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Imtiaz said the members of the trafficking syndicate lured girls aged 20 to 22 years to give them jobs at hotels and they provided each girl monthly salary of Taka 20,000 to 30,000 to gain their trust.
In addition to this, he said, the syndicate bore the traveling cost of these girls in going to Dubai. “Once the girls reached Dubai, the members of the trafficking syndicate confined them at hotels and forced them into prostitution,” he added.
Replying to a question, the CID official said there are 15 cases, including six cases against ringleader of the syndicate Azam Khan.
He said Azam owned three four-star hotels — Fortune Grand Hotel, City Tower Hotel and Fortune Royal Hotel — and one three-star hotel, Fortune Pearl Hotel, in Dubai.
Responding to another question, Imtiaz said the Dubai authorities recently informed Bangladesh Embassy in UAE about the criminal activities of Azam Khan.
“Later, the country seized his passport and sent him back to Bangladesh after providing an exit pass,” he said.
After returning to Bangladesh, the CID official said, Azam went into hiding and was trying to manage another passport and leave the country.
On information, CID arrested him with his associates, he added.
Imtiaz said Azam confessed to CID during its interrogation that he trafficked over 1,000 girls to Dubai in the last eight years.
On July 2 last, a case was filed against Azam with Lalbagh Police Station in this regard.