DHAKA: Five Bangladeshis have been charged in Canada over an alleged immigration fraud scheme involving 243 temporary resident visa applications for 209 Bangladeshi nationals.
According to a news release issued by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on Oct 22, four of the accused appeared at the Valleyfield courthouse in Quebec that day. They are Rashel Mirza, Mohammed Aminul Islam, Md Mudassar Alam Bhuiyan and Kazi Nafeez Alam.
The fifth accused, Md Rakibul Hassan, is reportedly in Bangladesh. An arrest warrant has been issued against him.
The investigation began after the CBSA conducted a compliance operation at a private residence in Mercier, Quebec, on July 3, 2024, with officers and representatives of the town's police and fire departments. The agency identified indications of possible violations of Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and formally launched an investigation in August that year.
Investigators found that 243 temporary resident visa applications had been submitted for 209 Bangladeshi nationals seeking to visit Canadian citizens presented as their hosts.
According to the CBSA, an elaborate scheme had allegedly been established to help the applicants obtain visas using fraudulent documents and false statements.
On June 3, 2025, investigators executed four search warrants at locations in Quebec and Ontario. Documents, computer equipment and other evidence gathered during the searches pointed to the involvement of the five accused in the alleged scheme.
Given the scale and complexity of the investigation, the CBSA focused on 79 of the 243 applications that it considered most probative.
The accused face three charges: conspiring to organise or facilitate the entry of people into Canada; knowingly inducing, aiding or abetting people to misrepresent or conceal material facts in immigration applications; and knowingly inducing, aiding or abetting people to violate Canada's immigration law.
The charges have yet to be validated by the court, and the allegations have not been proven. Judicial proceedings are ongoing.
Immigration specialists warn that submitting forged documents or false information in a Canadian visa application can result in the application being refused and a ban on entering Canada for at least five years, as well as further legal complications, the press release said.
The CBSA advised applicants to verify the accuracy of all information and supporting documents before submitting an application. It added that they should also remain aware of the information submitted on their behalf by representatives or consultants and avoid placing blind trust in anyone who guarantees a visa. - The Daily Star/ANN
