Attempted illegal journey to Italy: 10 youths missing for 10 months

Relatives have reported that ten young men from Madaripur have been missing for nearly ten months after attempting to reach Italy illegally by crossing the Mediterranean. Families remain in anguish, uncertain whether their sons are alive or dead. They claim to have paid human traffickers between BDT 2.8 million and 3 million each in an effort to secure their safe passage.

The missing youths are from various unions and areas within Madaripur:

According to the families, the youths were lured by the promise of reaching Italy for just BDT 1.5 million each, a temptation presented by Peyara Begum and her trafficking network from Gajirchar, Kendua. In January of the previous year, they left home, first travelling to Dubai, where they were kept for several days before being sent to a detention facility in Libya. There, traffickers subjected them to both physical and psychological abuse while demanding ransom payments ranging from BDT 1.3–1.5 million from each family.

Eventually, at the beginning of April last year, the youths were put on an engine-powered boat in Libya bound for Italy. However, no trace of them has been found since the voyage.

Parents recount harrowing experiences: Anwar Byapari, Limon’s father, said, “My son fell victim to Peyara Begum’s deception. I gave my passport and money, paid BDT 2.8 million for his release from Libya, and now he has been missing for ten months. Neither my son nor my money has returned.”

Joy Matubber’s father added, “My son worked for Peyara Begum. She tempted him and sent him to Libya, where he was briefly held by mafias. After paying BDT 1.2 million, he was released, but since April last year, there has been no news. Only Peyara Begum knows their whereabouts, and now she is also missing.”

Investigations indicate that Peyara Begum’s elder son, Fardin Dhali, is based in Italy and orchestrated the trafficking, while her younger son, Sourav Dhali, collected ransom payments in Bangladesh. Others involved include Sabuj Kazi and Mujahid Sheikh from Shariatpur, along with Peyara Begum’s brother Ali Akbar.

When approached for comment, neither Peyara Begum nor her family were available. Sourav Dhali denied the allegations, claiming that the youths left voluntarily and that the accusations were an attempt to harass his family.

Madaripur Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime & Investigation), Mohammad Jahangir Alam, confirmed that only one family has filed a case so far, resulting in three arrests. Legal action will be taken upon complaints from the remaining families. The police repeatedly warn against employing traffickers for foreign travel, stressing the risk of both loss of life and financial ruin.