25 workers abducted in Lama released in exchange for Tk10 lakh
After two days of captivity, 25 abducted rubber plantation workers in Bandarban's Lama have been released in exchange for a ransom of Tk10 lakh.
The workers were freed last night (17 February) in the Eidgah area in Ramu Upazila, Cox's Bazar, confirmed Lama Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shahadat Hossain.
The workers are residents of the Ramu and Eidgaon Upazilas, as well as the Naikhongchhari Upazila of Bandarban.
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According to rubber plantation owners, the freed workers are currently receiving medical treatment at various clinics and hospitals.
One rubber plantation owner, speaking anonymously, stated that Tk3 lakh was paid to free 12 of his workers, while Tk7 lakh was given for the release of 14 workers from five other plantations, totalling Tk10 lakh.
He also mentioned that the abducted workers were severely beaten. After their release, they were taken to Eidgaon Upazila Hospital in Cox's Bazar for treatment.
The freed workers have been identified as – Md Faruk, 26, Md Ayub Ali, 26, Md Siddiq, 40, Md Abdul Khaleq, 20, Abdul Majed, 17, Monirul Islam, 30, Ziaur Rahman, 45, Md. Mobarak, 25, Md Harul, 30, Syed Nur, 28, Ramiz Uddin, 30, Md. Kaisar, 38, Md Monir Hossain, 35, Md. Imran, 17, Manjur, 30, Afsar Ali, 25, Md Khairul Amin, 30, Abu Bakker, 29, Abdur Razzak, 33, and Md. Mobin, 25.
The identities of six others could not be confirmed.
On Saturday night (15 February), armed militants abducted 25 rubber plantation workers from the Murung Jhiri area of Goyalmara in Lama's Fashiakhali Union.
