6 rubber workers abducted in Bandarban; Tk20 lakh ransom demanded
The abducted workers are Nurul Afsar, 19, Md Arafat, 22, Ismail, 24, Karim Ullah, 26, Romit, 29, and Sakib, 18. All are residents of Fasiakhali union in Lama upazila
Six rubber plantation workers were allegedly abducted by armed, masked men from Bandarban Sadar upazila's Tongkabati union around 11:30pm yesterday (22 April), with kidnappers later demanding Tk20 lakh ransom, plantation owner Ismail said.
The incident took place in the Hatirdera area of Ward No 6, where the workers were taken from the rubber garden after being assaulted.
The abducted workers are Nurul Afsar, 19, Md Arafat, 22, Ismail, 24, Karim Ullah, 26, Romit, 29, and Sakib, 18. All are residents of Fasiakhali union in Lama upazila, he added.
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Ismail said the workers had long been employed at his plantation and were staying in their quarters after work when the incident occurred.
"Suddenly around 11:30pm, a group of armed and masked men came, assaulted them, blindfolded them and took them away," he said. "Later, they demanded Tk20 lakh as ransom."
He also alleged that the abductors threatened to kill both the workers and him if the ransom was not paid.
Tongkabati Union Parishad Chairman Mayang Mro said, "The matter of abducting six rubber workers has been informed to the law enforcement agencies. They are now investigating the incident."
Officer-in-Charge of Tongkabati police outpost Sudip Barua said law enforcement personnel have been sent to the spot to rescue the abducted persons.
Earlier on Tuesday night, three workers were also abducted from a rubber plantation in the Alikshyong area of Baishari union in Naikhongchhari upazila. They were later rescued in a drive conducted by law enforcement agencies.
