At least 640 people have been abducted in Chittagong Hill Tracts over the last 13 years, with only a handful released on payment of ransoms.
In most cases, kidnappers killed the victims.
The incidents have caused many, especially businessmen, distress.
No steps have been taken by the government to tackle the issue of abductions and deaths.
Security was questioned when five Teletalk staff were abducted from Bagaichhari upazila in Rangamati on July 8, during a visit by the home minister and the prime minister’s international affairs adviser Gowher Rizvi to Rangamati and Khagrachhari.
According to sources in the District Special branch and Detective branch of police, as well as the National Security Intelligence, at least 77 people were abducted in 2001, 99 in 2002, 78 in 2003, 77 in 2004, 51 in 2005, 30 in 2006, 8 in 2007, 14 in 2008, 12 in 2009, 14 in 2010, 25 in 2011, 145 in 2012, and 10 under various police stations of the district since July 26 this year.
However, sources said the number of abductions might be four times higher than official records show, and in most cases victims’ families do not inform the police.
Khagrachhari Mayor Rafiqul Alam said the Hills were turning into havens for abductions and secret killings, causing panic amongst locals and officials.
Due to risks of kidnappings, businessmen in the area feel insecure, with many losing interest in running businesses there, he said.
He referred to the abduction of the five Teletalk staff on July 8, where the kidnappers first demanded Tk4m as ransom and then Tk30m to release them.
The Teletalk employees were eventually released.
The mayor said the president of Guimara thana Awami League Jahangir Alam was allegedly abducted by indigenous criminals on June 17 and released on June 21 for Tk1.3m ransom.
It has been alleged that Parbattya Chattagram Jana Sanghity Samity (PCJSS) and its faction led by Sudha Sindhu Kisha and the United Peoples Democratic Front are responsible for the abductions and killings.
Pointing to the abductions of some 65 indigenous villagers in October 2012, the Bangladesh Adivashi Coalition’s president, Nomita Chakma said no one traced them because they were not from the elite classes.
She demanded immediate steps to be taken to rescue the villagers.
Central PCJSS Press and Information Secretary Sajib Chakma denied their involvement with the abductions.
He blamed his political rival UPDF and Sudha Sindhu Khisa-led PCJSS faction for abductions, killings and extortion in CHT.
District UPDF Press Secretary Niron Chakma said something similar and blamed the Santu Larma-led PCJSS for the killings, abductions and extortion in the CHT.
Niron said the UPDF believes in democracy.
SK Mizanur Rahman, superintendent of police (SP) in Khagrachhari, also blamed the three regional organisations for the abductions. He admitted to the failure of the police to investigate the kidnappings.
The SP said the police were trying their level best to rescue them, but in most cases, they remained in the dark because people were not cooperative.
