Investigative Report
Published:2026-02-16 12:31:16 BdST
Human Trafficking Under the Guise of Cultural Troupes
The international cultural festival, Adelaide Fringe, is set to take place from February 20 to March 22, 2026, in Adelaide, Australia. Participation in this festival requires an online application via their website (www.adelaidefringe.com.au). For the upcoming festival, several events have been registered on behalf of the Theatre Circle of Munshiganj district. Searching the festival website under "Bangladesh" reveals registered events such as Shohoj Manush, Nakshi Kanthar Maath, Bengali Folk, Ekhono Kritodas, and Banglar Naach.
However, a dishonest human trafficking ring has been exploiting this cultural banner by embedding "Adams" (illegal migrants) among real performers to traffic them abroad. In 2025, this syndicate registered six events and processed groups including approximately 40 such individuals. When Daily Janakantha published a report on this—despite some misinformation—the ring failed in its attempt to traffic people alongside the artists.
Shishir Rahman, from the Munshiganj Theatre Circle, represented this syndicate in Bangladesh. Notably, in 2024, a group was trafficked under the guise of a drama troupe led by Shishir and another member, Ananya Chowdhury Anu. At that time, 11 to 12 people stayed behind in Australia, including an 8-year-old girl named Anika and Marina Akter, the niece of Arif Sikdar (an expatriate member of the ring living in Australia). They are currently residing there on political asylum (refugee) visas. Shishir Rahman was part of that group but returned to Bangladesh.
Due to the profitability of the 2024 project, the syndicate attempted to send a team of 40 "Adams" alongside artists again in 2025. This attempt failed after the report was leaked in Daily Janakantha.
Now, for the 2026 festival, the syndicate is once again including family members in the list. It is reported that Ananya has included her estranged husband, Mojibul Haider Chowdhury, her 14-year-old son, Sadman Samir Chowdhury, and other close relatives. Australian expatriate Arif Sikdar has also included his niece and other relatives, while Shishir Rahman’s wife and children have reportedly been added to the group. Furthermore, there is a group of "Adams"—mostly recruited from the Shibchar area by Arif—who are not artists but are either unemployed or engaged in village farming. While the festival website lists some professional artists, including the notable Fazlur Rahman Babu, they are being used as a front.
This human trafficking ring, coordinated by Shishir Rahman, Ananya, Moinul Alam Rumon, and Arif Sikdar, is observed operating every year. By using the reputation of the Shilpakala Academy auditorium and group theater circles to process these individuals, they are tarnishing the country's international image. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Group Theatre Federation should monitor and take action on this matter; otherwise, the country's cultural reputation will soon be destroyed.
It is reported that the groups are currently awaiting their visas and will depart for Australia as soon as they are granted.
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