What will happen to Bangladeshis on the banks of the Mai River!
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photo: Barta24
Mae Sot is a quiet town in northwestern Thailand. Crossing the Mai River to the west is the Myanmar city of Myawaddy where all the terrible scam call centers have been set up. People from different countries have been kidnapped there including Bangladeshis.
These scam centers in Myanmar are running with the help of Thailand's electricity and using the mobile network. Last January, the gang also kidnapped a Chinese actor. Since then, the Thai authorities have also been in a fight with the Chinese government. All illegal electricity connections were disconnected and the internet was disconnected. Efforts were taken to destroy the scam centers there.
Then, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army launched an operation from across the border and freed 261 prisoners in the first phase and sent them to Thailand. In total, the Myanmar junta army estimates that about 10,000 foreigners will be freed from Myawaddy and surrounding areas.
It was learned from those who were rescued that the scam centers are owned by Chinese businessmen. They have the local armed forces of Myanmar.
Junaid waiting for friends-
In November, 2024 Bangladeshi youth Junaid fled from Myawaddy by crossing the Mai River. He described to Barta 24 how he was tortured there with electric shocks, tied up and beaten. When he was freed, he saw 12 more Bangladeshis in the same complex. Later, he returned to Thailand to free his friends.
On Friday, February 21, 2025, he told Barta24 that so far we have learned that 2 Bangladeshis have been rescued from scam centers.
Junaid and his 3 friends were planning to travel to Thailand from Dubai for three months. There, a Bangladeshi youth told them that there was a job opportunity in Thailand for 3 months. As a result, they could earn money while traveling.
However, in September, they were directly handed over to a scam center gang in Thailand.
Junaid said, the day we landed in Bangkok, we were taken across the border to Myanmar that night. They took our passports and mobile phones. If we asked any questions or protested, they would take us to a torture cell and beat us. If we were sick or could do less work, they would take us to a torture cell and beat us.
Junaid got a chance to leave the camp and go to the hospital in November. That day, he was able to escape to Thailand by swimming in the river. Later, at the request of the families of the imprisoned Bangladeshis, he came to Thailand again to find a way to rescue them.
What kind of work is done at the scam center?
Junaid told Barta24 that these are basically scam call centers. There, AI is used to lure internet users by posing as women. Then, when the banking channel is known or the money is extorted from the internet users by saying that they are investing.
He said, when we were taken there after being kidnapped, we were made to sign a contract at gunpoint. It was said that we would not be able to leave here before one and a half years. And we would have to earn about 15 thousand dollars every month. If we could not earn, inhuman torture and electric shocks would follow.
Junaid said, one day I was able to bring up to 15 thousand dollars at a time from an American client. We were initially trained for 21 days for this work.
In addition, if someone was not skilled in the work or became almost incapacitated due to torture, their body parts would be removed and sold, an Ethiopian prisoner told local media.
How many Bangladeshis are there?
It is difficult to get accurate information about the exact number of Bangladeshis detained there. Again, many people lose themselves in the world of crime while working in this scam center. They do not return. Again, those who can earn more for the scam center, the owners do not easily release them.
Junaid said that in the building where he was imprisoned, there were 12 Bangladeshis besides him. Of these, one has been released. 8 more are left.
The largest number of those released is Chinese citizens. Then there are citizens of various African countries including Ethiopia. Then there are citizens of various Indian and South Asian countries.
Bangladesh Embassy sources in Bangkok said that so far two Bangladeshis have been rescued. Among the 264 people who were rescued at first, 2 were Bangladeshis. They were sent back to Bangladesh that same day.
The embassy official said that so far we have received information about 24 people. We initially received information about nine people. Among those rescued, 1 was on our list. Another is off the list. This matter is being viewed with the utmost importance. He mentioned that all stakeholders are being talked to.
