78 Bangladeshis return from Cambodian cyber scam centres, 221 repatriated in 4 days

Another 78 Bangladeshi nationals rescued from cyber scam compounds in Cambodia returned home last night (17 June), taking the total number of repatriated victims to 221 over the past four days.

The returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on a Thai Airways flight (TG-339), according to a press release issued today (17 June).

As in the previous three days, the returnees received emergency assistance and financial support at the airport from BRAC's Migration Programme in coordination with Civil Aviation Security to facilitate their journey back to their homes.

Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC's Migration Programme and Youth Platform, said awareness on cyber scams must be strengthened, calling it a "serious form of human trafficking."

He said victims were taken abroad with promises of well-paid jobs but were then forced into online fraud operations targeting citizens of countries, including the United States. Those who failed to meet targets reportedly faced both physical and psychological abuse.

Shariful Hasan said Cambodian law enforcement operations led to the rescue of Bangladeshis from several scam compounds, adding that the return of 221 victims within four days highlights the scale of trafficking and exploitation.

He also noted that several returnees have already filed cases and urged authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and legal action against those responsible.

According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) data, 15,921 Bangladeshis travelled to Cambodia for work over the past 18 months. Returnees have claimed that thousands more remain stranded without jobs, living in hardship after being misled by recruitment promises.

One returnee said he was promised a company job in Cambodia in exchange for Tk5.5 lakh, with BMET clearance, but was instead sent on a one-month visit visa and never received a work permit.

"He alleged that recruiters in Cambodia eventually sold him to a scam compound for money," the press release said.

Another victim claimed workers were subjected to physical abuse and forced to participate in scam operations, with those resisting reportedly taken to torture cells and subjected to beatings and electric shocks.

He added that many were freed only after recent Cambodian police raids forced Chinese operators to flee.

BRAC said cyber scam syndicates typically lure victims through fake job offers circulated via websites, email, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram, promising roles such as computer operators and call centre staff with attractive salaries.

Victims are then reportedly confined in scam compounds, held at gunpoint, and forced to carry out fraudulent activities targeting individuals abroad.

BRAC urged caution regarding job opportunities in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, warning that trafficking networks continue to exploit job seekers with false promises.

Earlier, 37 Bangladeshis returned on 12 June, followed by 54 on 13 June and 52 on 16 June, while the latest group of 78 arrived on 17 June.

In previous incidents, eight Bangladeshis were repatriated from a cyber scam centre in Myanmar on 22 January this year, followed by another 18 on 19 September 2025. Many were reportedly trafficked through Thailand's border areas into Myanmar, where their passports and phones were seized, and they were forced into cyber scam operations.