Armed Assailants Abduct Three Rubber Workers In Bandarban

In a distressing escalation of violence within the Chittagong Hill Tracts, three young rubber plantation workers were abducted at gunpoint by a masked gang in the early hours of Wednesday, 22nd April 2026. The incident occurred in the remote Mustoilla Hill area of Ali Khyong Mouza, situated within the Naikhyangchari Upazila of Bandarban district. This latest kidnapping has reignited fears regarding the deteriorating security situation in the region’s agricultural belts.

The Midnight Raid on Abir Rubber Garden

According to local sources and plantation authorities, the raid took place at the staff quarters of the Abir Rubber Garden. A heavily armed group, estimated to consist of 12 to 15 masked individuals, descended upon the quarters under the cover of darkness. The assailants reportedly struck the doors of the dormitory, demanding immediate entry.

At the time of the incursion, thirteen workers—including both men and women—were asleep inside the facility. Witness accounts suggest that as soon as the doors were opened, the gunmen held the occupants hostage at weapon-point. After a brief period of intimidation, the kidnappers singled out three young male labourers and forcibly led them into the dense surrounding forest.

Profile of the Abducted Individuals

The victims, all aged 20 and residents of the Shafiullah Kata area within the neighbouring Teknaf Upazila, have been identified as follows:

Eyewitness Accounts and Looting

Nurul Islam, a “tapper” at the plantation who was present during the ordeal, described a scene of absolute helplessness. He recounted how the armed men used the threat of lethal force to prevent any resistance. “We woke up to the sound of violent banging on the door,” he stated. “The moment we opened it, masked men charged in. They showed us their weapons and took three of our colleagues. We could do nothing but watch in terror.”

Before retreating into the wilderness, the criminal gang also looted the quarters. Reports indicate that they made off with five mobile handsets, two machetes (daos), and three high-powered torches. The seizure of communication devices is a common tactic used by abductors in this region to delay the reporting of the crime to the authorities.

Official Response and Security Concerns

Inspector Anwarul Islam, the officer-in-charge of the Baishari Police Investigation Centre, confirmed the veracity of the report. He assured the public that law enforcement agencies had launched an immediate coordinated operation to track the kidnappers and ensure the safe recovery of the victims. Muzammel Huq, the Officer-in-Charge of Naikhyangchari Police Station, echoed these sentiments, stating that the matter is being treated with the utmost gravity.

The owner of the Abir Rubber Garden and former President of the Baishari Union BNP, Abdul Karim Bantu, was the first to be alerted by the workers. He promptly informed the security forces, who are now combing the rugged terrain of Mustoilla Hill.

A Pattern of Lawlessness

This incident is not an isolated case. Local residents have noted a disturbing trend of kidnappings in the Ali Khyong Mouza area. Previously, tobacco farmers in the same vicinity were abducted and only released following the payment of substantial ransoms.

The recurring nature of these crimes has cast a shadow of fear over the local farming community. There is a growing consensus among the inhabitants that without a permanent security outpost or increased patrols in these peripheral agricultural zones, workers remain easy targets for insurgent groups or criminal gangs operating across the border and within the deep hills.

As of this morning, no ransom demands have been officially communicated to the families of Nurul, Enamul, or Hasan. However, the local populace remains on high alert, demanding not only the swift rescue of the three youths but also the definitive apprehension of those responsible for this brazen violation of peace.