Tourists Rescued in Sundarbans, Six Kidnap Suspects Arrested

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 5th January 2026, 12:31 PM

Tourists Rescued in Sundarbans, Six Kidnap Suspects Arrested

A joint security operation led by the Bangladesh Coast Guard successfully rescued a resort owner and two tourists who had been kidnapped in the Sundarbans. The dramatic recovery took place late on Sunday night (4 January) in the Gazi Fisheries area, adjacent to the Sundarbans. During the operation, six individuals connected to the abduction were apprehended.

The tourists were initially seized on Friday afternoon (2 January) from the Kenuar Canal by the gang led by notorious forest bandit Masum, who demanded a ransom of BDT 40 lakh. Speaking to the media on Monday (5 January), Coast Guard Media Officer Lt. Commander Siam-ul-Haque confirmed that seven people, including the resort owner, had set out on a boat trip from the Golkanon Resort at around 3 pm. During this excursion, Masum’s gang took them hostage. Later, the gang released four of the captives but retained the resort owner and two tourists.

According to Coast Guard sources, the abductors held the victims at an undisclosed location in the Sundarbans while negotiating the ransom. Upon receiving information from the resort management, a coordinated operation was launched, involving the Coast Guard, Navy, police, and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Surveillance and intelligence gathering were intensified across various areas of the Sundarbans.

During the Sunday night operation, three of Masum’s associates were arrested near the Golkanon Resort, while additional suspects were captured elsewhere:

#	Name	Age	Location / Circumstances of Arrest
1	Kuddus Haoladar	43	Near Golkanon Resort
2	Mohammad Salam Box	24	Near Golkanon Resort
3	Mehedi Hasan	19	Near Golkanon Resort
4	Alam Matbor	38	Kailashganj area, Sundarbans
5	Zainabi Bibi	55	Palerhat area, Rupsa Thana, during attempted Vikkash transaction
6	Ayon Kundu	30	Palerhat area, Rupsa Thana, during attempted Vikkash transaction

Meanwhile, the hostages were safely rescued from the Gazi Fisheries area using drone surveillance and are being handed over to their families. The arrest and transfer of the six accomplices to local police stations are currently underway. Operations to apprehend the main bandit, Masum Mridha, continue under Coast Guard intelligence supervision.

The Coast Guard emphasised that future operations will continue in the Sundarbans and coastal areas to ensure the safety of tourists and local communities, underscoring a commitment to proactive security measures across the region.