8 Rohingyas, 4 suspected traffickers held in Sylhet

Police have detained eight Rohingyas and four suspected members of a human trafficking group while they were allegedly being taken to India through the Kanaighat border in Sylhet.

They were detained around 3pm yesterday (17 August) with the help of local residents from Kuorer Mati area under Dighirpar union of Kanaighat upazila.

The four suspected traffickers were identified as Asad Ahmed of Eraligul village and Saddam Hossain of Barakher village in Kanaighat, Rafiq Ahmed of Shantiganj upazila in Sunamganj, and Elach Uddin of Netrakona.

The eight Rohingyas were identified as Enayet Hossain, Abdul Mubin, Zuber Ahmed, Ajida Begum, Jamila Begum, Fatema Bibi, Nur Fatema and Ajida. They are all residents of the Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar.

Police and local residents said the Rohingyas were brought from the Kadamtali area of Sylhet city to Kanaighat in two CNG-run auto-rickshaws.

The group allegedly planned to take them to India through the Dona border. A boat had also been kept ready at the Kuorer Mati Batar Bazar area on the Surma River for the operation, according to the sources.

Frequent phone calls between the suspected traffickers and the boatman raised suspicion among local residents as the group was delayed in reaching the area.

Locals subsequently stopped the two auto-rickshaws in front of Kuorer Mati Madrasa and questioned the occupants, uncovering the alleged trafficking plan. They later informed police, who reached the spot and detained all 12 people.

Kanaighat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Aminul Islam said the detained Rohingyas had allegedly left the Kutupalong camp and were attempting to cross the border.

Legal proceedings against the detainees are underway, he said.