Twenty-five plantation workers abducted from rubber plantations in Bandarban's Lama upazila were released after paying a Tk 10 lakh ransom early today, police said.
They were freed in the Murung Jhiri Para area, near the Fasiakhali border, said Shahadat Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Lama Police Station.
The released workers include Md Faruk, Md Ayub Ali, Md Siddiq, Md Abdul Khaleq, Abdul Mazed, Monirul Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Md Mobarak, Md Harun, Syed Nur, Ramiz Uddin, Md Kaisar, Md Monir Hossain, Md Imran, Manzur, Afsar Ali, Md Khairul Amin, Abu Bakr, Abdur Razzak, and Md Mobin.
They are residents of Ramu and Eidgah in Cox's Bazar district and Naikhongchhari in Bandarban. The identities of the remaining workers are yet to be confirmed.
On Sunday, 26 rubber garden workers were abducted by unknown people from various plantations in the Goyalmara area of Fasiakhali around 10:00am. One of them managed to escape yesterday, leaving 25 in captivity, according to locals and garden owners.
Forkan, owner of the rubber company, confirmed that the workers were freed after the payment.
Quoting the workers, the company owner, alleged that they were physically assaulted before the release. The freed workers received treatment at Eidgah Hospital, he added.
Bandarban Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahidullah Kawsar confirmed the release, saying that all 25 workers have safely returned home.
Abductions for ransom have been reported in the area before. On January 14, three workers were abducted, while on February 1, seven lumberjacks were reportedly abducted from Lama upazila. In both cases, the victims were released after ransom payments.
FP/MI
Hasina can’t evade responsibility for Khaleda Zia’s death: Nazrul
Pakistan’s National Assembly speaker calls on chief adviser
Three service chiefs attend Khaleda Zia’s janaza
Farewell to a leader; Khaleda Zia laid to rest with state honour
Highest 18 candidates file nominations in Dhaka-12, Gazipur-2
Mirza Fakhrul submits nomination for Thakurgaon-1
Artistes mourn the passing of Khaleda Zia
Khaleda Zia’s janaza held with tears of lakhs of mourners
Rumeen Farhana, Nirob among nine BNP leaders expelled
