Six men held hostage in Libya
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
Six men from Cumilla who traveled to Libya through brokers in search of a better life have been taken hostage by a human trafficking ring. The traffickers are demanding a ransom of Tk 2.7 million for each captive, totaling Tk 16.2 million, for their release, according to allegations. In this situation, Cumilla 9 lawmaker Md. Abul Kalam has written to the state minister for foreign affairs, urging the Foreign Ministry to take immediate action to save their lives and bring them back to Bangladesh.
The letter, signed by MP Md. Abul Kalam, was sent to the state minister for foreign affairs on July 21. In the letter, he said that six residents of his constituency in Monohorganj and Laksam, Sohail, Manik Islam, Taj Mohammad, Mehedi Hasan, Md. Shahadat Hossain and Shawon, were taken to Libya by a mafia ring about nine months ago.
The letter further said that the organized mafia ring has been holding them in a detention camp in the Zawiya area of Libya under brutal conditions. It said the group is demanding Tk 2.7 million from each family, totaling Tk 16.2 million, as a condition for their release. The letter also said the traffickers have threatened to kill them if the money is not paid. A phone number of a local broker in Libya was also attached to the letter.
In his letter, the MP named seven people from Dishabandh village in Monohorganj, Manik, Shamsul Islam, Russell, Saju Begum, Mosammat Priti, Jihad and Biplob, accusing them of involvement. He also urged the Foreign Ministry to take the necessary diplomatic initiatives to save the lives of the detained Bangladeshi nationals in Libya and ensure their safe return home.
Attempts were made several times to contact MP Md. Abul Kalam by mobile phone for comment, but his phone was found switched off.
However, Sarwar Jahan Dolon, general secretary of Monohorganj BNP, said on Wednesday, “He (the MP) is currently undergoing treatment in Singapore. He (the MP) has requested the state minister for foreign affairs through a letter to rescue the youths from our area who are being held in a detention camp in Libya and tortured over ransom demands.”
