The Anwara Police in Chittagong have successfully conducted a rescue operation and apprehended four suspects in connection with the abduction of a minibus driver and his two assistants. The incident, which involved a ransom demand of 100,000 BDT, concluded with the safe recovery of the victims and the vehicle. An official press release issued by the Anwara Police Station on Saturday, 9 May 2026, confirmed the details of the arrests and the tactical rescue.
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Details of the Abduction Incident
According to the police and the First Information Report (FIR), the incident commenced on the evening of Thursday, 7 May 2026. At approximately 8:30 pm, a ‘Human Hauler’ style minibus was travelling from the New Bridge area of Chittagong city towards Chatari Chaumuhani in Anwara. The vehicle was operated by Md. Shahidul Islam, aged 19, who was accompanied by his two assistants, Md. Forkan and Md. Zahid.
Upon arrival in the Chatari Chaumuhani area, several young men approached the driver, requesting to hire the minibus for an urgent trip to the Barumchhara area. Trusting the request, the driver proceeded towards the destination. However, upon reaching Barumchhara, the passengers—revealing themselves to be abductors—threatened the crew with locally made sharp weapons.
The victims were held hostage as the perpetrators seized their mobile phones, cash, and the ignition keys to the vehicle. The minibus was then driven to a secluded location where the driver and his assistants were forcibly detained.
Ransom Demand and Investigative Response
Once the victims were secured in a remote hideout, the kidnappers contacted the owner of the minibus, Shafiul Alam, via telephone. They issued a demand for a ransom of 100,000 BDT for the safe release of the three employees. The instructions directed the owner to deliver the currency to the Sarkarchat Cattle Market area.
Following the ransom call, Shafiul Alam promptly alerted the authorities and filed a formal case at the Anwara Police Station on Friday, alleging extortion, abduction, and criminal intimidation. The case specifically named five individuals and included several other unidentified accomplices.
Under the operational command of Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Jewel Mia, a police team initiated a targeted raid based on intelligence and mobile tracking. The initial phase of the operation led to the arrest of Md. Jahed (23) and Md. Rimon (19) near the North Barumchhara Jamia Noorani Madrasa.
Rescue Operation and Subsequent Arrests
During the custodial interrogation of the first two suspects, the police obtained the precise location where the hostages and the vehicle were being held. Acting on this information, the team moved to Mohammad Ali’s Tek in the Barumchhara area, where they successfully rescued the driver and both assistants unharmed. The hijacked minibus was also recovered at the scene.
The investigation continued into the late hours of Friday, 8 May 2026, leading to a second raid in the Tailardwip area. This resulted in the apprehension of two further suspects, identified as Nurul Kabir and Nurul Momin Arafat.
Police records indicate that several of the arrested individuals are repeat offenders, with existing criminal cases filed against them across various police stations for offences including:
Drug trafficking and possession.
Illegal possession of firearms.
Acts of criminal violence.
Official Police Statement
Junayet Chowdhury, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Anwara Police Station, stated that the rapid response of the force ensured the safe return of the victims. He remarked, “We managed to rescue the abducted individuals completely intact and arrest the primary suspects within a very short timeframe. The four arrested men were produced before the court this afternoon.”
OC Chowdhury further noted that while four individuals are in custody, several other members of the gang remain at large. Operations are ongoing to recover the weapons used during the abduction and to bring the remaining fugitives to justice. The police have reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling this criminal network to ensure the safety of public transport workers in the region.