Ctg RMG factory official abducted over extortion; Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal leaders sued

A senior official of a readymade garment factory in Chattogram was rescued yesterday (26 April) after he was allegedly abducted by leaders of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal after refusing to pay extortion money. 

The incident took place near the Azim Group's factory in the BSCIC Industrial Area in Chandgaon at around 10pm yesterday.

The victim, Shafiul Alam, a senior supervisor at Azim Group Garments, was later rescued by police around 10:30pm, but the kidnappers managed to flee, said Chandgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Aftab Uddin. 

Shafiul later filed a case with Chandgaon police.

Md Sohel, a leader of Chandgaon Thana Jubo Dal, and Alfaz, convener of Chandgaon Thana Chhatra Dal, were accused in the case. Both are reportedly followers of Abu Sufian, former convener of the BNP's Chattogram South District unit.

Efforts to arrest the accused are ongoing, OC Aftab said. 

In the case statement, Shafiul alleged that while returning home from work around 10pm, Sohel and three to four unidentified men forcibly dragged him into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. They took him near the railway tracks at C&B Tekbazar, an isolated area, where he was physically assaulted. The kidnappers also contacted his family by phone and demanded a ransom of Tk5,00,000. After being informed, the family sought help from Chandgaon police, leading to Shafiul's rescue.

The victim's son, journalist Amzad Hossain, said his father had been harassed over the past few days by Sohel and Alfaz over fabricated allegations. 

"Despite informing central and metropolitan Chhatra Dal leaders two days earlier, no action was taken. Last night, they abducted him for extortion again. Previously, they had demanded Tk1,50,000, and even before that Tk70,000 had been extorted from him in the name of the BNP," he added.

BNP leader Abu Sufian said, "I have heard about the incident. I have informed the police and urged them to take action. Those who commit crimes using the BNP's name will have no place in the party."

Chattogram Metropolitan Chhatra Dal President Saiful Alam said, "Initially, no evidence of Alfaz's involvement was found through police and local sources. Still, a deeper investigation is underway. Alfaz has denied his involvement and said he should be expelled if found guilty. If any evidence surfaces, strict action will be taken against him."