An unsuspecting jobseeker from Ishwarganj upazila in Mymensingh fell victim to a violent kidnapping plot, leaving him with a fractured leg, severe head injuries, and a trauma-ridden family struggling under the weight of financial distress.
Anisuzzaman Jaman, son of the late Joynal Abedin from Kashipur village in Sarisha Union, recounted his grueling ordeal from his bed at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on Wednesday. Through tears, Jaman recalled pleading with his attackers during the brutal assault: “If you kill me, at least send my body back to my mother.”
Jaman’s nightmare began on Monday morning after travelling to the Rasulpur area in Muktagachha upazila to discuss a potential job opportunity. Financial strain had forced him to seek employment actively across various sectors. Upon arrival, four unidentified men riding motorcycles encircled him. Two of them pinned his arms while pressing a tissue-like chemically treated cloth over his nose, causing him to lose consciousness almost instantly.
When Jaman regained awareness around 2:30 pm, he found himself isolated in an open area alongside the Dhaleshwari River, facing a relentless physical assault. His captors forced him to contact his mother, Jahanara Begum, demanding a ransom of five lakh taka for his safe release. Mrs Begum, who has been battling blood cancer for twelve years, scraped together five thousand taka—all the family could muster—and sent it to the abductors.
Despite receiving the partial payment, the attackers escalated their violence. The perpetrators battered Jaman repeatedly with iron pipes, breaking his right leg, and struck his head with a sharp weapon, inflicting a wound that required seven stitches. Overcome by the physical trauma, Jaman fainted once more.
Regaining consciousness around 9:00 pm, Jaman dragged himself towards a nearby roadway by crawling on his hands and knees. His desperate cries for help alerted local passers-by, who pulled him to safety. His elder sister, Badrunnesa Salma, subsequently admitted him to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during the early hours of Tuesday, at approximately 2:30 am.
Describing her brother as a simple and gentle soul, Badrunnesa Salma demanded that authorities identify and arrest those responsible. She highlighted that their mother’s long-term cancer treatments had already left the family financially destitute. Mrs Begum, who relies on Jaman as her primary carer, expressed sheer terror over the thought of losing her son and called for justice against those who targeted him.
Local law enforcement authorities have initiated preliminary steps regarding the incident. Sajjad Roman, Officer-in-Charge of Ishwarganj Police Station, confirmed that officers have been assigned to gather facts, investigate the circumstances, and pursue formal legal proceedings against the perpetrators.
This incident highlights a dangerous, recurring pattern across rural Bangladesh, where organised criminal gangs exploit the desperation of unemployed youths. Jobseekers are frequently lured to unfamiliar locations with promises of private employment, foreign recruitment, or government vacancies. Once isolated, victims are detained, tortured, and used as leverage to extort money from vulnerable families. Authorities continue to advise jobseekers to verify prospective employers through official channels and avoid meeting unknown contacts in secluded places.
