Fifteen Bangladeshi nationals reportedly preparing to travel to Croatia were arrested from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. The Valley Crime Investigation Office apprehended the individuals from Thamel and Sorhakhutte areas of Kathmandu on Tuesday.

Following the arrest, the Department of Immigration questioned the suspects and released them under the custody of the hotel operators where they were staying. Investigations revealed that Bangladeshi citizens have been entering Nepal, obtaining visas through agents in India, and attempting to leave for Croatia via Nepal’s international airport.

The police arrested the Bangladeshis on charges of overstaying their visas and involvement in other illegal activities. During questioning, the detainees admitted they were trying to reach Croatia via Nepal, passing through the UAE.

The arrested individuals include Mokh Les, 40, Amirul Islam, 20, Masood Sikri 25, Musa Dhali, 25, Mohammad Musaraf Hussain, 20, Sojib Miah, 24, Mohammad Al Amin,20, Mohammad Anwar Hussain ,44, Salman Miah, 22, Saleh Ahmed Rijwan 21, Mohammad Abu Saleh,31,, Mohammad Nur Alom (20), Mohammad Monir Hussain,39, Mohammad Hafiz Uddin, 27, and Kamrul Hasan,21.

According to Superintendent of Police Kajikumar Acharya, spokesperson for the Valley Police Office, the arrests were made on charges of overstaying. Director of the Immigration Department, Prem Prasad Dahal, stated that many of the arrested had initially entered Nepal on 30-day tourist visas and had not extended their stay. They also revealed that their passports had been sent to India by agents for the Croatian visa process.

“They were fined for overstaying and were instructed to regularize their visas. If they fail to complete the process, they will be deported to their home country. Until then, they have been released under the supervision of hotel operators,” Dahal said.

He also added that the arrested individuals had come to Nepal with the help of agents to use the country as a transit point to reach Croatia. Many Bangladeshi nationals have been using Nepal’s route after tighter restrictions were imposed by India following the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh.