Former joint secretary general of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Fakhrul Islam was arrested early Tuesday in a human trafficking case but was later released on condition due to illness.
A team from Banani Police Station arrested him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 1:50 am upon his arrival from abroad, said Md Rasel Saroar, officer-in-charge of Banani Police Station.
He said Fakhrul was released from police custody under the supervision of a lawyer on the condition that he will appear before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court within two days to seek bail.
According to a case filed with Banani Police Station, Fakhrul Islam and his associate Jasim Uddin are accused of embezzling around Tk 3 crore and engaging in human trafficking.
The case was filed by Md Rubel Hossain, managing partner of RUL International.
The case statement said Fakhrul and Jasim took about Tk 3.02 crore from Rubel Hossain for sending workers to Malaysia but failed to provide the promised jobs.
Instead, they detained 28 workers at different places and tortured them.
It also alleged that the accused refused to return an additional Tk 1.48 crore and issued threats when the complainant demanded the money back.
Fakhrul Islam had earlier faced multiple cases on charges of human trafficking and fraud, according to police.