“48 hours have passed since the abduction, yet there is no trace.”

A shocking abduction in the Dhankhari area of the Sundarbans has entered its third day without any sign of rescue for two tourists and a resort owner. The incident has sparked widespread fear among local communities and renewed concerns over the safety of forest-based tourism. According to police sources, the abductors, claiming to be members of a gang of forest bandits, have contacted the families of the victims demanding a substantial ransom.

Police and local sources report that on Friday, 2 January, four tourists from Dhaka—comprising two men and two women—visited the Sundarbans. They arrived at the eco-resort ‘Gol Kanan’, located in Dhankhari, Dakop Upazila, Khulna, around midday. Later in the afternoon, resort owner Mr. Sripati Bachhar accompanied three of the tourists on a boat excursion along the forest-adjacent canal. During this trip, armed assailants abducted five individuals, including a female tourist, directly from the canal area near the resort.

By nightfall, two female tourists were released and returned to the resort. However, Mr. Bachhar and two male tourists, Md. Sohel and John, remain in captivity. The kidnappers subsequently contacted the families of the abductees to demand a ransom under the guise of being forest bandits.

The victim’s family has filed an official kidnapping case at Dakop Police Station. Officer-in-Charge Atikur Rahman stated: “The incident is being investigated with the utmost priority, and all necessary legal measures have been taken.” The West Zone Coast Guard launched a special rescue operation on Friday, according to Lieutenant Commander Abrar, who confirmed: “The operation is ongoing. Updates will be provided as the situation develops.” As of Sunday evening (4 January), no rescues have been successful.

The Dhankhari River separates the Sundarbans from inhabited areas. While the forest stretches across the southern bank, the northern and eastern banks are occupied by local settlements. In recent years, several eco-resorts have emerged in this region, significantly contributing to the local economy and tourism development. A leader of the Resort Owners Association of Sundarbans (ROAS) noted that while Gol Kanan is managed locally with NGO support, it is not affiliated with their organisation.

Key Information on the Abduction:

The incident has intensified calls for stricter security measures for Sundarbans-based tourism, including increased patrolling along waterways and coordinated safety protocols for tourists and resort operators.