Six Rubber Plantation Workers Kidnapped in Bandarban

Armed miscreants have abducted six labourers from a rubber plantation in the Tankabati area of Bandarban Sadar Upazila, subsequently demanding a ransom of 2 million BDT (20 lakh) for their release. The incident occurred late Wednesday night, approximately at 11:30 PM, at a plantation owned by an individual named Ismail in the Hatirdera locality of Tankabati Union.

Details of the Incident

According to Ismail, the owner of the plantation, the workers had concluded their daily duties and were resting in the staff quarters when the attack took place. A group of armed individuals stormed the premises, brandishing weapons and intimidating the occupants. The assailants forcibly took six labourers, blindfolding them before transporting them to an undisclosed location.

The identified victims of the abduction are as follows:

Ransom Demand and Threats

Following the abduction, the kidnappers established contact to demand a ransom of 2 million BDT. The plantation owner reported that the criminals issued grave threats, stating that both the six abducted workers and the owner himself would be killed if the financial demands were not met within the specified timeframe.

Official Response and Rescue Operations

Maung Yang Mro, the Chairman of the Tankabati Union Parishad, confirmed the incident on Thursday morning. He stated that the local administration and law enforcement agencies were promptly notified of the kidnapping.

Masud Parvez, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bandarban Sadar Police Station, confirmed that upon receiving the report, personnel from the Tankabati police outpost were dispatched to the scene. He noted that a rescue operation is currently underway to locate and safely retrieve the workers.

Further reinforcing the administrative response, the Additional Superintendent of Police for Bandarban, Md. Farhad Sarder, indicated that the police initiated their efforts immediately after the report was filed. Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting drives in the surrounding hilly terrain, which is often utilised by insurgent groups or criminal gangs for such activities.

Regional Context

Bandarban, part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), has historically faced security challenges involving various armed groups. While the specific group responsible for this abduction has not yet been identified by the authorities, such incidents of kidnapping for ransom have been documented in the remote areas of the district. The local police have increased surveillance in the Tankabati Union to prevent further escalations.