18 individuals, including forest workers, were rescued from an armed gang's hideout in the dense hills of Rangi Khali West in Cox's Bazar's Hnila Union on Tuesday evening.
They had been abducted on Monday morning while working in the forest.
The rescue operation involved local residents, the forest department, police, RAB and APBn personnel.
RAB-15 Commanding Officer Lt Col HM Sajjad Hossain confirmed the success of the mission, crediting the use of drones, which instilled fear in the kidnappers and led to the victims' release.
Efforts are ongoing to rescue other abductees.
Earlier on Tuesday morning, armed assailants reportedly abducted eight people, including drivers, from two autorickshaws on the Hwaikong-Shamlapur road.
According to Abdur Rahim, a line manager for the Shamlapur autorickshaw service, the robbers intercepted the vehicles and kidnapped the passengers.
Police have since recovered the autorickshaws and are conducting rescue operations, though the exact number of victims remains unconfirmed.
In a separate incident on Monday night, Jashim Uddin, a local resident of Bara Deil in Teknaf’s Baharchhara Union, was kidnapped by armed assailants who fired 15–20 rounds of blank shots before taking him into the hills.
The perpetrators have yet to contact his family.
Local leaders and residents expressed concern over the frequent abductions by armed Rohingya gangs, who reportedly demand ransom and torture victims if their demands are unmet.
Police and other security forces continue efforts to rescue the remaining hostages and curb these incidents.
The situation has left the local population living in constant fear of abduction.
