Six Rubber Plantation Workers Abducted in Bandarban

Six labourers were abducted at gunpoint from a rubber plantation in the Tongkaboti area of Bandarban Sadar Upazila. Following the abduction, the unidentified perpetrators demanded a ransom of 2 million BDT (20 lakh) for their release. The incident has prompted an immediate response from local law enforcement agencies, who have launched a rescue operation in the hilly terrain.

Details of the Incident

The abduction occurred at approximately 11:30 pm on Wednesday in the Hatirdera area of Tongkaboti Union. The victims were employees at a rubber plantation owned by an individual named Ismail. According to the plantation owner, the workers had completed their daily tasks and were resting in the plantation’s staff quarters when the gang arrived.

The assailants, who were reportedly armed, blindfolded the six men and forcibly moved them to an undisclosed location. On Thursday morning, Mang Yang Mro, the Chairman of the Tongkaboti Union Parishad, confirmed the details of the incident and stated that the local administration and law enforcement agencies were notified immediately.

Profiles of the Abducted Workers

The victims are all young men employed in the regional rubber industry. Their details are as follows:

Ransom Demand and Threats

Ismail, the owner of the rubber plantation, reported that the kidnappers contacted him shortly after the abduction. They issued a demand for 2 million BDT in exchange for the safe return of the labourers. Furthermore, the criminals issued a death threat, stating that both the six abducted workers and the plantation owner himself would be killed if the ransom was not paid promptly.

Law Enforcement Response

The Bandarban District Police have mobilised resources to locate the missing men. Masud Parvez, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bandarban Sadar Police Station, confirmed that officers from the Tongkaboti police outpost were dispatched to the scene immediately upon receiving the report.

Farhad Sardar, the Additional Superintendent of Police in Bandarban, stated that the police have initiated a formal search and rescue mission. The rugged and hilly geography of the Bandarban district often presents challenges for such operations; however, law enforcement officials have assured that they are utilising all available resources to ensure the victims are recovered unharmed and the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Security in the surrounding rubber plantations has been heightened following the incident, as local workers express concern over the safety of the remote work sites. Investigations are currently ongoing to identify the group responsible for the crime.