Father and Two Accomplices Arrested for Child Trafficking

The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested a father and two members of a human trafficking syndicate for allegedly attempting to sell two minor children in Siddhirganj. Law enforcement officials successfully rescued both abducted children during coordinated operations.

The suspects have been identified as the children’s father, Mezbah Uddin, alongside trafficking syndicate members Emdadul Haque Rabbani, 23, and Nur-e-Nasrin, 29. Following his arrest, Mezbah Uddin provided a confessional statement before a court. The details of the operations were confirmed on Tuesday night by Md. Mostafa Kamal Rashed, the Special Superintendent of Police for PBI Narayanganj District.

Background and Domestic Conflict

The rescued children are five-year-old Ariyan and 28-day-old Abdur Rahman Jubayet. They are the offspring of Mezbah Uddin and Jharna Akhter, residents of the Mizmiji Books Garden area within the jurisdiction of Siddhirganj Police Station.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), Mezbah Uddin and Jharna Akhter were married seven years ago. The marriage was reportedly marred by persistent domestic turmoil, as Mezbah became involved in extramarital relationships with multiple women. Investigators revealed that Mezbah routinely pressured his wife for money. He frequently threatened to sell their children if she failed to comply with his financial demands.

Further investigations by the PBI revealed that Mezbah Uddin was heavily involved in drug abuse and online gambling. He had married multiple times and faced prior allegations of attempting to trade his own children for monetary gain to sustain his lifestyle.

Abduction and Legal Action

On 21 April, executing a premeditated plan, Mezbah Uddin removed both children from their home with the assistance of his acquaintance, Emdadul Haque Rabbani. The children’s mother later discovered through various sources that a plot was underway to sell her sons to human traffickers.

Following an exhaustive, unsuccessful search for her children, Jharna Akhter filed a formal case at Siddhirganj Police Station on 13 May under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act. The PBI unraveled the details of the crime after initiating a specialized investigation into the case.

Coordinated PBI Operations and Rescues

A specialized team from the PBI deployed advanced information technology and intelligence gathering to track the suspects across different areas of the capital.

• First Raid (13 May): Law enforcement personnel raided a residence in the Arapara area of Savar. They successfully rescued five-year-old Ariyan and arrested the father, Mezbah Uddin, from the spot.

• Second Raid (Monday Late Night): Utilizing intelligence extracted from Mezbah Uddin, the PBI conducted a raid near the Korail slum in Banani, capturing Emdadul Haque Rabbani.

• Third Raid (Same Night): Following Rabbani’s interrogation, the team immediately raided the Pallabi area. They arrested Nur-e-Nasrin and recovered the 28-day-old infant, Abdur Rahman Jubayet, from her custody.

Syndicate Profile and Judicial Proceedings

Preliminary investigations indicate that Emdadul Haque Rabbani is an active member of an organised human trafficking ring. The PBI disclosed that Rabbani systematically targeted impoverished and financially vulnerable families through social media and other platforms to procure and traffic children. The agency noted that evidence of multiple instances of child trafficking has been uncovered against him.

The suspects were subsequently produced before a court with a petition for police remand. The court granted a five-day remand for Emdadul Haque Rabbani and a two-day remand for Nur-e-Nasrin to facilitate further interrogation.

Case Summary Table