Abduction scare in Kushtia

At least 20 people were abducted in six upazilas in January this year, according to police records, newspaper reports and victims' families. Many incidents remained unreported for fear of reprisal.

Of those abducted, two were killed and one is still missing, believed to have been killed for non-payment of ransom. Ransom was realised from the rest. Police could rescue only one of the victims.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Police sources and the victims families said some identified organised gangs including outlaws are involved in abduction.

In most of the incidents, police were informed but they could neither rescue the victims not save their families from paying ransom. In most incidents, victims' families did not file case fearing reprisal by the criminals.

Allegations have it that in some cases, police asked victims' families to pay ransom to save lives of the abducted persons.

On January 1, cadres of outlawed Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF) of Sromojibi Mukti Andolon abducted schoolboy Bipul Hossain, son of Azibar Rahman, from Alampur village in the Sadar Upazila and released him after two days on payment of Tk 1.20 lakh.

On the next day, one Akhil Kumar Ghosh of Dayarampur village in Kumarkhali upazila was abducted by members of outlawed New Bipplobi Communist Party (NBCP). He was released after payment of Tk 50,000 through a media.

On Jnuary 3, young man Khokon Joardar, son of Ansar Joardar of Panti in Kumarkhali upazila was abducted by NBCP and released after payment of Tk 1 lakh.

On January 4, schoolgirls Sabita Rani Bagchi, 12, and Shusmita, 12 of Birikaya village were abducted by NBCP while they were going to Panti Girls High School in Kumarkhali. They were released after on payment of T. 50,000 on the same night.

On the same day, one Firoj, 18, son of Shajahan Ali of Malihad village in Mirpur upazila was abducted. He was released two days later after payment of Tk 30,000.

On January 8, college teacher lecturer Sahidul Islam was abducted from Kushtia town by a gang, who demanded Tk two lakh ransom.

He escaped from captivity at a Meherpur village after two days. He told police the name of abductors but police did not do not arrest them, he told this correspondent.

On the same day, businessman Safayat Hossain, 42, who is also president of Jhoudia Traders Association, was abducted by Gono Mukti Fouz and released on payment of Tk one lakh ransom.

On January 13, PBCP abducted young man Kibria, son of Sagir Hossain of Munshiganj. He was taken to India and later released after payment of Tk 50,000.

Abductors killed Saidur Rahman, 29, son of Abdus Sattar of Niyamatbari in Kumarkhali as a ransom of Tk two lakh was not paid within two days of abduction on January 2. It was alleged that he was abducted by Gano Bahini, which claims links with a faction of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.

Even farmers are not spared. On January 16, farmer Arjan Ali of Daulatpur was abducted allegedly by outlaws belonging to Bipplobi Communist Party (BCP) and released on payment of Tk 40,000.

Businessman Mazibur Rahman, 29, son of Zillur Rahman of Daulatkhali, abducted on January 19 for Tk two lakh is still missing.

Mozibul Haq Kalu, 32, of Halsa village in Mirpur, abducted on January 25 for Tk 1 lakh, is missing as his family failed to pay the money.

The only victim rescued by police is college student Miraj. He was kidnapped from Ujangram village in the Sadar upazila on January 29 for Tk two lakh. Police rescued him on February 11 and arrested three of the captors.