Bangali

1,200 Bangladeshis await fake Nepal passports

Ravi Dhami
KATHMANDU: Up to 1,200 Bangladeshi nationals have been waiting for fake Nepali passports in Kathmandu to enter Arabian countries for employment.

A source claimed that each of them has given two lakh to 3.50 lakh takas to the agents for the job. This came to light after one of the members of the such a network was nabbed in the capital on May 26. The agents have arranged for the stay of Bangaladeshi national in several parts of the capital, including Samakhushi, Gongabu, Koteshwor and Putalisadak. Some of them are also residing out of the Kathmandu valley. The police have been looking into the case.

They had nabbed a member of international network of fake passport racketeers, Mohhamad Saibuddin, and 12 Bangladeshi nationals on May 26 from Kathmandu. The police claimed that Saibuddin was the kingpin of the racket brining Bangaladeshi nationals to Nepal.

SP Ramesh Kharel, chief, Metropolitan Police Range Hanumandhoka, told THT, “We have detained the leader of the racketeers.” DSP Dipak Thapa, one of the police officers involved in the investigation, said, “There are more than 1,000 Bangaladeshi citizens awaiting Nepali passports in Kathmandu.” They have been brought here to send them to Arabian countries for foreign employment, he added.

The agents had earlier promised them to send them to Arabian countries on Bangaladeshi passports. Later they were informed that they could send them for employment only on Nepali passports.

One of the Bangaladeshi nationals, Anawar Hussain, claimed that the agents assaulted them when they refused to accept fake passports. Hussain told THT: “Most of the Bangaladeshis who are here don’t have Bangaladeshi passports.” Hussain was nabbed on May 26. Immigration department has been interrogating him for using a fake passport.

The source claimed that Bangladeshis were being taught Nepali in parts of the capital secretly. Arabian countries have fixed a quota for Bangaladeshis to give employment, hence they take the Nepal route.