Md. Raihan Hossain, Sylhet: Allegations have surfaced of two teenage girls from Sylhet being trafficked to Cox’s Bazar under the pretense of jobs in a garment factory. They were reportedly forced into prostitution. On Thursday evening (April 24), the two victimized teenagers fled Cox’s Bazar and reported their harrowing ordeal of trafficking and torture to the Shahparan Police Station in Sylhet.
According to hospital sources, the two victims, aged 16 and 17, are currently receiving treatment at the One-Stop Crisis Centre of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital. The two girls are residents of the Pirer Bazar area in Sylhet Sadar Upazila.
The victimized teenagers told the media that they often visited the house of a neighbor named Shahnaz Begum due to watching television dramas together. On April 8, this neighbor, Shahnaz Begum, allegedly sent them both to Cox’s Bazar on an Ena bus to her son, promising them jobs in a garment factory. Subsequently, she cunningly drugged them unconscious. The next day, upon regaining consciousness, the two young women found themselves confined in a residential hotel room. Following this, Shahnaz Begum’s son, Emon Ahmed, took them to various hotels, including Ahmed Din, Sheuli, and Classic Residential Hotel, where he forced them into prostitution. They were reportedly used for these illicit activities from the night of April 9 until the night of April 23. Finally, on Thursday (April 24), the two girls managed to escape and reached the Shahparan Police Station in Sylhet.
The accused woman, Shahnaz Begum, is the wife of Murad Ahmed from the Pirer Bazar area of Sylhet Sadar Upazila, and her accomplice, Emon Ahmed, is Shahnaz Begum’s son from her first marriage. Emon Ahmed’s home is in Chattogram.
Meanwhile, following the disappearance of the two teenage girls on April 8, their concerned families had filed separate general diaries at the Shahparan Police Station. They remained missing until the afternoon of April 24.
Robena Akter, the mother of one of the victims, told the media, “Shahnaz Begum is my neighbor. Since I don’t have a husband, my daughter Ria and my neighbor Sanaullah’s daughter Mim used to go to Shahnaz Begum’s house to watch TV when I went out for work. That woman used to treat them with a lot of affection, so I never forbade them from going there. But after the two girls went missing, I noticed a significant change in Shahnaz Begum’s behavior. She often used to say strange things about our daughters. She would blame and verbally abuse us. Now, after 15 long days, the horrifying account my daughters have given us has revealed the monstrous side of that woman.”
She further added, “Shahnaz Begum has ruined the lives of my daughter and the other teenager. For almost 14 days, these two young girls were subjected to inhumane torture. That woman has destroyed our daughters’ futures. My daughter is currently admitted to the One-Stop Crisis Centre at Osmani Hospital. We will take legal action regarding this.”
Sanaullah, the father of the other victim, told the media, “We demand proper justice for the injustice done to our daughters. Especially against Shahnaz Begum and her son Emon Ahmed. Together, they have tarnished our daughters’ honor and future. We seek the highest punishment for both of them.”
Sub-Inspector (SI) Sohel Chandra Sarkar of Shahparan Police Station told the media, “The parents of the two teenagers used to torture them and keep them confined at home. That’s why they fell into the trap of the woman they knew. I don’t know if they were taken there for work. However, regarding their confinement and brutal torture there, they said they were kept confined and tortured in a house. They managed to escape from there on Thursday morning and came to Sylhet.”
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Monir Hossain of Shahparan Police Station told the media, “Two friends fled to Cox’s Bazar with their families. Then, they both returned to Sylhet on Thursday. We had received missing diaries from both of their families regarding this incident. For that reason, our investigating officer spoke to them on the phone, persuaded them to return, and they came back. Both have been handed over to their families.”
Regarding being forced into immoral activities at a hotel, he said, “They did not say anything like that to us. Besides, we have not received any complaint about such an incident. As far as we know, the two friends fled due to family torture.” When asked why the two teenagers were admitted to the One-Stop Crisis Centre, the OC said, “I don’t know anything about this.”
