At around 10:00am, Rab 11 acting on a tip-off searched a Satkhira-bound passenger bus, Rosina Paribahan, at Nabinagar.

The crime busters rescued the six including four of a family and arrested Apan Das from Noakhali. Rab claimed that he is a member of an organised woman-trafficking ring.

The rescued are Parbati, 13, and Rupti, 12, both residents of Bandar Tila, Chittagong while Gouri, 35, and her three children Sanjay, 12, Shankari, 13, and Gokul, 14, from Noakhali.

Sources said the traffickers brought the women and children to the capital from Noakhali and Chittagong on Friday. They were supposed to be handed over to a Shahidul in Satkhira before being sent to India.

Apan Das during primary interrogation confessed to human trafficking.

Gouri, wife of day labourer Guru Das in Noakhali, said Apan Das on Wednesday persuaded her to go to Dhaka with a promise of finding her a job in the capital. But after reaching Dhaka, Apan said that they would be better off if they went to India. He also threatened her that he would not let them go back to Noakhali.

Another victim, Parbati, also said that the traffickers brought Rupti and her to the capital promising to find them jobs.

A case was filed with Ashulia Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Act. The rescued will be under police custody till they are sent back to the families.

Deputy-commander of Rab 11 and Assistant Superintendent of Police Solaiman told journalists that Apan Das is a member of an organised woman-trafficking cartel and the law enforcers are working on to capture every one of them.