Bangladesh faces rising cybercrime trafficking and refugee camp gambling crises

Multiple criminal and social crises are impacting communities in Bangladesh, specifically within Rohingya refugee camps and through international trafficking networks. In Cox’s Bazar, online gambling is reportedly spreading among Rohingya refugees, leading to severe financial hardship and debt. UNHCR’s Joint Protection Monitoring noted hundreds of protection incidents, including killings, kidnappings, and extortion, between January and June.

Separately, cybercrime syndicates are targeting Bangladeshi citizens by promising lucrative jobs in Southeast Asia. Victims are often trafficked to countries like Cambodia and Laos, where they are held hostage, tortured, and forced to participate in online fraud. While the BRAC Migration Programme reports that approximately 730 Bangladeshis have been rescued, roughly 1,800 others are reportedly awaiting repatriation. Recent police raids in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar have uncovered local operations of these networks, prompting calls for increased scrutiny of work visas and better international collaboration to combat these syndicates.