Rescued from the trafficking attempt, the women and their families are now eyeing uncertain future as most of them had to sell their properties and last belongings in a desperate bid to go abroad for a 'better' future.

They had paid Tk 45,000 to 1 lakh to the brokers to go to Libya and were scheduled to fly by a Gulf Air flight at 7:45am yesterday, they said.

Following the instructions of their brokers, they gathered at a recruiting agency office at Fakirapool in the capital on Thursday evening.

The recruiting agency men brought them to ZIA at midnight and left them there after collecting boarding passes for them.

The women had been waiting at the passengers lounge for their immigration, where police found them carrying fake work permits.

"The women's work permits were fraudulent although they had genuine passports and visas," Officer-in-Charge (Immigration) Shamima Shabnam said, adding, "Being confirmed, we held them."

She said some expatriates welfare and overseas employment ministry officials posted at ZIA might be involved with the trafficking attempt. Four of them -- Mosharraf, Hassan, Shahjalal and Hafizur Rahman -- were picked up and being quizzing at the ZIA, she added.

Superintendent of Police (Immigration) Shah Alam told reporters that they had also learnt about the recruiting agencies concerned.

However, the names of the recruiting agencies were not disclosed for the sake of 'investigation'.

Rights organisations have contacted them to take care of the rescued women and send them back home, he said.

Shah Alam said the ministry officials did not verify the work permits before sending them to the immigration, which is a negligence of duties.

Meanwhile, the ministry officials under interrogation said they could not examine the papers properly due to 'disturbance' in computers when the women passed their office.

Officer-in-Charge of Airport Police Station Shafiqur Rahmand said the immigration department informed him of the matter but no case or general diary was filed with the PS as of filing of this report yesterday evening.

Amena Begum, wife of Sirajul Islam of Gafargaon, said she sold her land to pay Tk 80,000 to her broker for going to Libya.

"I cannot go back to village now. All the family members will starve to death if I cannot go abroad," said Amena crying. She pleaded to send her abroad for any kind of work.

Similar is the condition of Saleha and Shahnaz from Savar and Rahela Khatun from Comilla -- who sold their lands to go abroad.

"Will they return our money? What shall I answer after returning home?" said another woman.

The ill-fated women could not name the recruiting agencies concerned.

"I do not know the broker who worked to send me abroad," was the answer for most of them.

The brokers also went 'missing' after the incident yesterday morning.