Two abducted farmers released in Cox's Bazar; still no trace of abducted easy-bike driver

After four days in captivity, the two farmers who were abducted at Teknaf in Cox's Bazar were released by the kidnappers upon receiving a ransom of Tk7 lakh. However, an easy-bike driver remains abducted.

Rafiqul Islam, a member of ward number 6 of Baharchhara union, said that the two farmers were released yesterday afternoon in a hilly area near Jahajpura of Baharchhara union in Teknaf.

The released victims are Ahmad Ullah, 48, son of Absar Ahmed, and Jasim Uddin, 18, son of Abdus Salam, of Jahajpura of Teknaf.

On Tuesday morning, while grazing cattle in the hills near Jahajpura in Teknaf, a group of masked men abducted the two farmers at gunpoint.

The following day, an unidentified man called their family members and demanded a ransom of Tk25 lakh for their release.

Upon knowing about the incident, police and navy launched a joint operation to rescue them.

Quoting the victims' family members, Rafiqul Islam said that since the abduction of the two local farmers, the kidnappers had been demanding a large sum of money as ransom over the phone. However, as the victims' families refused to pay the demanded amount, the abductors held them captive for four days.

Later, after negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to release the abducted farmers in exchange for a ransom of Tk7 lakh.

However, Rafiqul Islam said that the victims' family members did not disclose where, how, or to whom the ransom money was paid.

He added, "The two abducted farmers were tortured and beaten while being held captive for ransom. They sustained injuries. After their release, their families admitted them to Cox's Bazar General Hospital for treatment."

Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Giyas Uddin said that police were not informed about any ransom payment. However, they learnt from locals that the kidnappers had released the two farmers.

The OC also said that the victims' families had not yet filed any complaints regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, at about 7pm on Thursday, a group of kidnappers abducted an easy-bike driver along with his vehicle on Marine Drive in the Jahajpura area of Teknaf, reportedly for ransom.

The abducted are Mohammad Faruk, 16, son of Nurul Haque, of the Lama Bazar area of Baharchhara union of Teknaf. He is a battery-run easy-bike driver.

According to the victim's family, Abdul Haque, a union parishad member of ward number 1 of Baharchhara union of Teknaf, said that on Thursday evening, Mohammad Faruk was heading south on a battery-run easy-bike on Marine Drive from Shamlapur Bazar in Teknaf. When he reached the Jahajpura area, 3 to 4 unknown people armed with weapons abducted him along with his vehicle.

Later, an unidentified person called his family on a mobile phone and demanded a ransom of Tk5 lakh.

Inspector Shubhranjan Saha, in-charge of the Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre, said that no formal complaints had been received regarding the incident. However, police would investigate the matter.

According to Cox's Bazar police, 227 people were abducted from various areas of Teknaf in the past 14 months. Meanwhile, 87 people were abducted from different areas of Ukhia during the same period.