Photo : TDM
In the hope of starting a better life in Europe, 21-year-old Mahmudul Hasan Sourov, son of Korban Ali and Rebeka Sultana Lovely, who both are teachers of government primary schools at Chhonogaon in Sunamganj, convinced his parents and left the country for Italy via Libya in September last year.
However, in a shocking turn of events, his migration popularly known as the 'Game' came to a sudden halt, as he has been taken hostage along with two other boys named Sumon and Noman, sons of Md Yusuf and Abdus Sattar of the Chhonogaon village of Sunamganj.
'Game' can be described as the migration of any expatriate Bangladeshi from Libya to Italy or any other state.
They were held hostages at a place called the 'Game Ghor' (the place where they spend the transition time between migrating to Italy from Libya), and were being gruesomely tortured for ransom by the human trafficking mafias. Experts want all out war against human traffickers Korban, narrated the tragic turn of events that transpired with his son to The Daily Messenger.
He with a shaky tone said, "they are brutally torturing my son. I want him back. I don't want him to be there." Replying to queries, Mr. Korban told TDM, my son, younger among three This is how, Sourov's father elderly siblings, was an honors first-year student at the Chhatak Degree college. One day Sourov said that he wants to move to Italy, where his uncle Kudrat Ali is living along with his family.
"To fulfill his wish, I then contacted owner of the Faisal Photo Studio, here in Chhonogaon, Abul Kashem, and sent my son to Libya by spending Tk 3.40 lakh."
All were going okay. Sourov got a job after going to Libya, he added. At one stage Kashem's son Sabbir, who lives in Italy, told us that he can take Sourov and two other boys Mes to Italy from Libya, according to which an agreement was signed with Rejaul Karim, son of manpower supplier Abdul Barek (apparently a human trafficker), who is an expatriate Bangladeshi living in Libya. Later, on April 13, 2023, we handed over Tk 6 lakh for each of the boys totaling Tk 18 lakh out of the contracted 21 lakh taka.
However, on April 17, my weeping son called me all on a sudden and informed that he has been held hostage in Libya at a 'Game Ghor' and being tortured there for ransom, following which I received several pictures of Sourov, Noman and Sumon being hanged upside down and beaten. Shocked and panicked Korban then asked why you're being tortured, replying to which Sourov said, he and the rest two boys have to pay Tk 17 lakh as ransom per head, otherwise they will be killed.
"Left with no other choice, me and my wife along with Noman and Sumon's parents gave TK 4 lakh each more to Rejaul's wife and brother-in-law Sumon in front of village-Normal al sumen s parents gave A 4 Tak Rejaul's wife and brother-in-law Sumon in front of village- men. But, the torture on them continued, though we already have given Tk 14 lakh for my Sourov's migration", said Korban. He added: "My son is being electrocuted, mercilessly beaten. I cannot bear it further. They asked for Tk17 lakh to free my son. Now where can I go? What should I do?
"I seek help and cooperation of the authorities. Please save my son. During investigation, The Daily Messenger came to know that at least 12 people of the Dowarabazar of Sunamganj are held captive at the game ghor by the mafias for ransom. This reporter tried to reach the Faisal Studio owner Kashem, Rejaul Karim and Razia Khatun, but succeeded only in getting in touch with Razia.
She told this reporter, "My husband (Barek) lives in Libya. We did not send the boys there. They were sent by someone called Manik. When my husband came to know about the boys, he quickly contacted Mansoor, an old ally, and had given him a total of Tk45 lakh."
The parents of the victims have given Tk42 lakh. But the mafia people are demanding six lakh more, she added.
Officer in charge of the Dowarabazar police station told TDM, "I've heard the news, but, don't know anything in detail. I've called the families of the victims. We'll take measures if complaint is filed."
Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, Professor of Political Science at the University of Dhaka and the founding Chair of Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) told the Daily Messenger, two things have to be campaigned. One,such an exodus should be stopped. Two, airport authorities should take measures to aware those who are diving in for it. The travel agents, from whom the victims are buying air tickets, should be brought under scanner. It is very difficult to bring the victims back, as there is no governance. Hence, the government should declare a war against the human traffickers while boosting international multilateral issues.
TDM/SD
