2 including rural doctor kidnapped in Teknaf, demanding Tk6 lakh ‘ransom’

After a month-long lull in kidnapping cases in the hilly area of ​​Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, two persons, including a rural doctor, were kidnapped yesterday (April 21).

The perpetrators have reportedly demanded a ransom of Tk6 lakh from the families of the kidnapped persons.

The rural doctor was identified as Zahir Uddin, 52, son of Maulana Zaker Hossain from Thaingkhali area of ​​Ukhiya. The identity of the second person could not yet be confirmed.

The incident took place around 9pm yesterday when the two persons were heading to their homes via Huaikong Road in Baharchhara of Teknaf, Muhammad Osman Gani of Teknaf Police Station confirmed.

According to journalist Kamruddin Mukul, younger brother of kidnapped Zahir Uddin, his brother returned home as usual after finishing his medical chamber practice in Shaplapur region. He was traveling in a CNG with another passenger.

“A group stopped the CNG on the Shamlapur-Huaikong road, held them at gunpoint and took them to the mountains. Later, the CNG driver informed the family about the incident. Soon after, a ransom demand of Tk6 lakh was made over the phone. call,” he said.

After receiving information, the OC said multiple police teams had been deployed to launch a rescue operation.

There were no more kidnapping incidents in the hilly areas of Teknaf in the past month. However, earlier, between March 2023 and 2024, 120 people were abducted from different parts of Teknaf, of which 62 were locals and the rest were Rohingya civilians. Families of the victims claim that at least 53 of the kidnapped persons have been released after paying ransoms.