Four Sent to Remand in Bangladesh Over Alleged Tk 83.9 Million Student Visa Scam

On Thursday, Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam granted the remand requests. Among those remanded is the alleged mastermind of the scam, Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, also known as Md. Matiur Rahman.

 

According to the investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Billal Bhuiyan of Bhatara Police Station, the court granted five days' remand each for the three main accused—Matiur Rahman, Rabeya Khatun Tania, and Saidur Rahman—against the police's request for seven days. Another accused, Tanzir Islam, was placed on a four-day remand after police sought five days.

 

The prosecution, represented by public prosecutor Golam Mortuza Ibne Islam, argued in favor of the remand during the hearing.

 

Meanwhile, another accused, Mashayer Rahman, the second named suspect in the case and a director of Visa Guide, was produced before the court after his arrest. As he voluntarily agreed to provide a confessional statement, Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Ripon Hossain recorded his testimony and subsequently ordered that he be sent to jail, according to SI Md. Kamal of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Prosecution Division.

 

Tensions briefly flared at the court premises as the accused were brought in under police custody. A group of aggrieved students attempted to confront the suspects, prompting police to intervene and secure the area by closing the detention facility gate.

 

Deputy Commissioner Mahiyuddin Mahmud Sohel of the DMP Prosecution Division said there was no attack on police officers or attempt to free the accused. He stated that the students became agitated upon seeing the suspects and moved toward the detention area, but police safely dispersed the crowd and restored order.

 

According to the case documents, Visa Guide and Just Thought Education Consultant allegedly promised to send students abroad on student visas within four months. However, despite receiving large sums of money from applicants, the firms reportedly failed to send any of them overseas within the promised timeframe.

 

Investigators allege that the two firms collected a total of Tk 83,894,000 from 92 students. When the students later sought updates, they were repeatedly given assurances regarding student and family visa processing. Eventually, the accused allegedly failed to return the money and misappropriated the entire amount.

 

The case was filed on July 8 at Bhatara Police Station by Al-Amin on behalf of the victims. The complaint names 13 individuals as accused and includes seven to eight unidentified suspects. Police have arrested five people in connection with the case so far.

 

Following the hearing, lawyer H.M. Ruhul Amin Molla, representing the complainants, said the alleged fraud had shattered the dreams of many students hoping to pursue higher education abroad. Despite paying substantial amounts of money, the students were neither sent overseas nor refunded their payments.