5 workers abducted from Teknaf hills return home after paying ransom

The five workers who were abducted while collecting firewood in the hilly area of Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila returned home today (7 February) after paying ransom to the abductors.

They had to pay Tk3.40 lakh as ransom, family members of the victims said.

Confirming the matter, Member of ward no-5 in Teknaf's Baharchhara union Humayun Kader Chowdhury said the workers were released at the foothill of Pankhali Hills in Teknaf's Hnila union at dawn.

"The workers were released two days after their abduction. The abductors had asked for Tk5 lakh from the victims' families, which was reduced to Tk3.40 lakh after bargaining. The family members of the victims have said that they have been released," Humayun said.

However, they did not mention how they sent the money or to whom.

Contacted, Officer In-Charge of Teknaf model police station Mohammad Gias Uddin said, "Police had been conducting drives in the area since getting informed about the matter. We have come to know the workers have been released but their families did not inform police about paying any ransom. Legal steps will be taken after talking to the five workers."

Earlier on Wednesday (5 February), some unidentified assailants abducted five people for ransom in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila.

The incident happened when the victims were collecting firewood from the hilly area on the east side of Chakma Para under ward-5 at Baharchhara union in the upazila around 11am on that day.

The victims are Maruf Ullah, 18, Mohammad Kaif Ullah, 17, Mohammad Esa, 28, Yusuf Ullah, 30 and Md Abu, all hailing from Math Para and Bainna Para areas under Ward No-5 in Teknaf's Baharchhara.

According to data from Cox's Bazar district police and victims' families, a total of 219 people were abducted from various areas in the district over the last one year.

During this time, a total of 87 Rohingyas were also abducted from refugee camps in Ukhia in the district.