Catholic doctors have demanded action from the government amid media reports that authorities have discovered an organ trafficking ring that has been in operation since at least 2005.

Local media reported earlier this month that an unidentified group has been trading in human organs among poor communities in the Kalai sub-district of northwestern Joypurhat district in Rajshai diocese.

The reports also allege involvement by staff members of hospitals in the capital.

F Karim, a police officer in Kalai sub-district, told ucanews.com that police have arrested at least eight suspects so far for possible involvement in the organ trading ring.

He said the culprits are suspected of luring at least 48 local villagers to sell organs, including kidneys and sections of their liver.

He added that police have trouble identifying such crimes because few people come forward to file charges.

“If people don’t come to complain, we can do nothing.”

Metropolitan police last week conducted raids on hospitals in Dhaka to seek evidence of involvement in organ trafficking.

Dr Sebastian Halder, president of the Association of Bangladesh Catholic Doctors, said the trade in organs posed a substantial public health threat.

“The kidney is a very important organ in the human body. It’s inhuman to trade kidneys and exploit the poverty of individuals. The culprits should be heavily punished,” he said.

“So far, I know not only intermediaries but also doctors, politicians and others are involved in these crimes,” he added, declining to explain the source of his knowledge.

Dr Noel Gomes, also a member of the association, said the practice of organ trading was barbaric and should be condemned and stopped.

Mehedi Hasan, 23, a Muslim, said he agreed to sell part of his liver because he needed the money.

“I had loans at a couple of NGOs and I badly needed the money. Earlier this year, I learned that I could sell one of my kidneys and earn a large amount of money without causing me any trouble,” he said.

“I was brought to the Lab Aid hospital in Dhaka and there was told that they didn’t want my kidney but part of my liver.”

He added: “They assured me there would be no problem with taking part of my liver and promised to pay me 300,000 taka (about US$4,000). Later, they changed the price to 145,000 taka.”

Hasan said that after he returned home he began experiencing chest pains and other health issues.

Bangladeshi law stipulates that organ recipients can only receive organ donations from family members.

Kamal Salehin, media manager at Lab Aid hospital, denied any wrongdoing on the part of the hospital.

“We don’t trade in kidneys and livers. We can’t know what agreements have been made with donors,” he told ucanews.com.

“From now on, we’ll conduct DNA tests to verify if the donor is a relative or not.”