Staff Reporter :
At least 27 people have reportedly been abducted in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, over the past two days.
Eighteen workers who were abducted from Jadimura Hill in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, have been rescued on Tuesday afternoon, and are now safely in the custody of RAB-15 for further protection and investigation.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday around 8 a.m. when two autorickshaws were stopped on the Whykong-Shamlapur road.
Inspector Shobhon Kumar Saha of the Baharchara Investigation Centre said, “An operation is underway following reports of the abduction of passengers and drivers.
We have yet to confirm the exact number of people abducted, but the two autorickshaws have been recovered.”
Earlier on Monday morning, 18 individuals, including a Forest Department worker, were abducted while planting saplings on the hills. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of Tk 1.8 million for their release.
Jashim Uddin, the son of Baharchara Union resident Nazim Uddin Master, was abducted around 11 p.m., according to Nurul Islam, a Ward No. 8 member of the Baharchara Union council.
While police, the Rapid Action Battalion, and the Armed Police Battalion were assisting the Forest Department in a raid to recover the initial 19 abductees, another eight people were kidnapped on Tuesday morning.
“Two autorickshaws traveling from Whykong to Shamlapur were stopped by members of a robber gang,” said Md Abdur Rahim, a Shamlapur autorickshaw lineman. “The gang abducted eight individuals, including the two drivers.”
Police from the Baharchara Investigation Centre arrived at the scene after the incident was reported but have not yet identified the abductees.
Mohammad Rahmat Ali, Superintendent of Cox’s Bazar District Police, stated, “The abductions occurred deep in the hills. Police lack the necessary equipment to conduct raids in such terrain.
We have requested support from the district administration and hope to carry out a successful rescue operation soon.”
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin assured, “We will provide our utmost support to law enforcement agencies to recover the abductees.”
