A 19-year-old Bangladeshi woman has returned to her home country after enduring forced drug dependency, a fraudulent marriage, and severe physical abuse following her trafficking to China under the guise of domestic employment, according to court documents, international anti-trafficking organizations, and police accounts reported by The Daily Star.
The Deception and Forced Drug Dependency in Dhaka
According to interviews and case filings, the victim—identified by the pseudonym Rima—left her village in Bagerhat approximately six months prior to her rescue, believing she was traveling to Dhaka for domestic work to support her three-year-old son. Instead, a distant relative brought her to a flat near Alir Mor in North Badda, Dhaka. There, according to Rima’s account documented by The Daily Star, residents of the flat forced her to consume yaba four or five times until she developed a severe dependency. Perpetrators then used her cravings and compromising video footage recorded while she was under the influence to control her and prevent her from fleeing or contacting her family.
Fraudulent Marriage Arrangements and Trafficking to China
As detailed by The Daily Star, the syndicate arranged a forced marriage between Rima and a Chinese national named Wang Zhen after an introduction by a Bangladeshi broker identified as Ador at Jamuna Future Park. Rima reported that she was taken to a coffee shop in Dhaka where she was handed paperwork she did not understand and told to sign. Approximately a month later, she was transported to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and traveled alone to China.
Confinement, Abuse, and Daring Escape in China
Upon arrival in China, Wang took Rima to his family home in a village, where she was initially treated well until her visa was extended for six months, as reported by The Daily Star. Rima stated that she was subsequently bound by her hands and feet, transferred to a broker’s house, beaten, and sexually abused. She managed to escape during a medical visit for her injuries by slipping away from her escort while he was occupied at a reception desk. She reached a restaurant and showed staff saved translations of threats and images of her injuries, prompting workers to contact emergency services. Chinese police recovered her passport and arranged her transit to Beijing.
Legal Action and Cross-Border Rescue Coordination
Rima returned to Bangladesh with active support from Justice and Care, an international organization combating modern slavery and human trafficking, alongside coordination with the home ministry. Mohammed Tariqul Islam, country director of Justice and Care, emphasized to The Daily Star that the case highlights an emerging pattern of deceptive overseas marriage rings targeting vulnerable young women.
Did you know? Anti-trafficking advocates note that verifying the background, legal marital status, and local registration of foreign nationals seeking cross-border marriages remains a vital safeguard against trafficking networks operating across South and East Asia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was the victim rescued from China?
According to investigative reports, Rima escaped during a visit to a doctor by slipping away from her minder, fleeing to a local restaurant, and displaying translated digital messages detailing threats and injuries to staff, who then alerted emergency services.
What organizations assisted in the repatriation?
Justice and Care coordinated the rescue and return efforts alongside government authorities after receiving information from the victim’s family and submitting official documentation to the home ministry.
Have legal proceedings been initiated against the suspects?
Yes. Rima’s father filed a formal petition with the Khulna Human Trafficking Offence Tribunal on August 2, naming seven individuals in connection with the trafficking ring.
Are there other victims linked to this network?
According to Rima’s testimony, similar fraudulent marriage and trafficking schemes have affected numerous families over recent years.
Join the Conversation: What steps do you think local communities and law enforcement should take to combat fraudulent overseas marriage rings? Share your thoughts in the comments below or explore our related coverage on international crime and human trafficking.
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