The rescued women are Sabina, Kaniz Fatema, Nazma, Runa Akhter, Runa, Shabnur, Ria and Nargis.

Three of them, however, had travelled abroad before. They were supposed to be on board a Kuwait bound flight at 6:55am.

Immigration police held the women, aged between 18 and 22, as they did not have permission from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, which is required for artists wishing to travel abroad to perform in cultural programmes.

Even though they had documents regarding endorsement of $200, the law enforcers found no money in their possession.

The women were being sent in the name of performing in a cultural programme in Kuwait under the banner of Boishakhi Shilpi Gosthhi, immigration sources said. They said even though their passports mention them as artists, none of them can sing or dance.

The law enforcers visited the office of Boishakhi Shilpi Gosthhi in Sayedabad in the capital yesterday but found it locked.

The women were being questioned at immigrations last night.