Biman official held over alleged fake visa trafficking to Italy

 
A Biman Bangladesh Airlines official has been arrested over allegations of involvement in human trafficking and migrant smuggling to Italy using fake Schengen visas. The arrestered personnel was identified as Biman Ground Officer Mohammad Akhlasur Rahman.

Akhlasur Rahman.for helping three passengers reach Italy on fake Schengen visas using a Nepal boarding pass ruse. Two of the three were caught at Rome airport and sent back, while one made it through immigration.

The two returnees told investigators during questioning that they had struck a Tk 3 million deal with a syndicate to sneak out of the country, having already paid Tk 2 million each upfront.

CID Special Branch Superintendent of Police Badrul Alam Molla held a press conference at CID headquarters in Dhaka’s Malibagh on Tuesday afternoon, hours after Akhlasur was arrested from Jamalpur in the morning. The three left Bangladesh on a Biman flight to Italy on May 26, Badrul said.

At Rome airport, Mostafizur Rahman Anik and Akkhay Chandra Das were caught with fake Schengen visas. CID did not name the third person, who cleared Italian immigration and entered the country.

The two who were sent back were questioned by multiple agencies on May 28, which led investigators to the ring. A case was filed at Airport Police Station on May 30, and CID’s investigation into that case led to Akhlasur’s arrest.