Two arrested over kidnapping, trafficking of Bangladeshi man in Libya

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two alleged members of a human trafficking network over the kidnapping of a Bangladeshi man in Libya and demands for ransom from his family.

The arrestees were identified as Md Monowar Hossain, 40, and Md Sohel Rana, 45, both residents of Chandpur village in Singra upazila of Natore.

They were arrested during a raid in the Singra Bazar area of Natore around 1pm on Thursday, according to the CID.

According to the investigation, Md Saiful, 39, son of Md Abdus Samad of Manmat Bipujipara village in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha, travelled to Libya around two years ago through a Bangladeshi agent named Sohel in search of better livelihood opportunities.

After arriving in Libya, however, he allegedly fell into the hands of a human trafficking network and was held captive.

On August 5, 2025, Saiful's wife received a phone call from a Libyan number. The callers told her that her husband was being held captive and demanded 30 taka lakh in ransom, threatening to kill him if the money was not paid.

They also warned that the family would not be allowed to speak to Saiful until at least half of the demanded amount was paid.

Between August 10 and 25, 2025, the family paid 5 lakh taka through a bKash agent at Bamondanga Hall Mor in Sundarganj. The money was transferred to several mobile financial service numbers provided by the callers.

Despite receiving the money, the alleged kidnappers did not allow the family to speak to Saiful.

Later, a man identifying himself as Sohel contacted Saiful's wife, claiming to have information about her husband and offering to travel to Libya to rescue him.

He asked her to meet him in Dhaka's Kadamtali area. However, when she arrived at the agreed location, his mobile phone was found switched off.

Subsequently, another caller contacted Saiful's father and demanded 42 taka lakh, claiming he could arrange his son's rescue. The caller said Saiful was being held by two individuals named Mokarram and Anwar in Libya.

Saiful's 70-year-old father refused to pay any more money without first being allowed to speak to his son. Neither he nor Saiful's wife received any further calls.

Abdus Samad later filed a case with Sundarganj Police Station on September 5, 2025. The CID subsequently took charge of the investigation.

During the investigation, the CID gathered information, evidence and intelligence that led to the identification of the two suspects. A CID team later arrested them in Natore.

The CID is questioning the arrestees to identify other members of the trafficking network, trace the routes used by the alleged traffickers and locate and rescue Saiful in Libya.