Human trafficking ring traps Bangladeshis in Nepal with fake Canadian visa ploy: Brac issues alert

Brac Migration Programme has issued an urgent public alert, warning citizens about a dangerous human trafficking ring that lures young Bangladeshis with promises of migration to Canada or Europe via Nepal, only to hold them hostage for ransom.

The warning comes after Brac coordinated the rescue of three Bangladeshi men who were recently subjected to this scheme, according to a press release.

The criminal network is exploiting the lure of "pay-after-arrival" schemes and Nepal's visa-on-arrival policy to trap victims, according to Shariful Islam Hasan, associate director of BRAC Migration Programme.

The latest incident began on 13 October, when three men from Sylhet were taken to Nepal under the pretext of being sent to Canada, with the assurance that all costs could be paid after they reached their destination.

Once in a hotel in Nepal, the ring confiscated their passports and mobile phones, holding them hostage at gunpoint.

The traffickers then pasted fake Canadian visas and tickets into the victims' passports and sent photos of the documents to their families. The ring contacted the families from a Canadian WhatsApp number, falsely claiming the victims had arrived in Canada and demanding an initial Tk5 lakh payment be made to a local Bangladeshi broker.

They then demanded an additional Tk12 lakh from each family. When families requested to speak to their relatives, the victims were forced at gunpoint to confirm they had arrived in Canada and were undergoing a "15-day training provided by the company".

The family of one victim grew suspicious and promised the traffickers the Tk12 lakh only if their relative was delivered to a known person in Canada. The traffickers, however, stalled and increased the torture, demanding immediate payment.

The families contacted Brac on 26 October, providing details and pleading for rescue.

Brac immediately coordinated with the local Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Nepali authorities. A case was filed under the Human Trafficking Deterrence and Suppression Act at the Kotwali Police Station under the Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP).

A joint operation by SMP and CID that same night led to the arrest of a local broker.

Upon hearing of the arrest, the traffickers in Nepal abandoned the three victims near the Kathmandu Airport at 3am. The victims safely returned to Dhaka on 30 October, where Brac's Emergency Response Team provided assistance, and intelligence officials recorded their statements.

The non-government organisation warned that Nepal is frequently used by traffickers due to its visa-on-arrival facility. They stressed that the promise of "payment upon arrival in Canada" is a critical trap.

Brac urged potential migrants to be cautious and report any suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement, adding that those facing such dangers abroad can contact the Brac Migration Welfare Centre (BMWC) for assistance.