Widespread panic grips Teknaf as organized gangs abduct 30 individuals in three days, leaving residents in fear and insecurity.
Syed Hossain, a mason and son of the late Abbas Mia, has been abducted in the Bara Deil area of Baharchhara Union, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
According to his family, on the evening of Friday, armed criminals descended from the hills, fired blank shots, broke into the house, and held Syed at gunpoint before taking him to the hills.
Local resident Nur Hossain said: “After Maghrib prayer, a group of hill robbers came down, held people at gunpoint, and abducted one person. We are now living in fear for our own safety.”
Nurul Islam, a member of Ward 8 of Baharchhara Union Parishad, said: “Shots were fired in the evening, and later I heard that someone was taken from their home. Earlier in the day, two others were also reportedly taken and are being held in the hills.”
Inspector Shovon Kumar Saha, in charge of Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre, said: “Upon hearing about the gunfire, we rushed to the spot. The matter is being treated with utmost seriousness. Operations to rescue the abducted person are ongoing.”
While 26 of the 30 abducted were rescued through law enforcement operations or ransom payments, four are still in the hands of the kidnappers.
According to local sources, the abductors are demanding Tk10 lakh from a grocery shop owner named Jasim.
This situation has caused widespread panic among locals, who are demanding a large-scale operation to address the issue.
Residents allege that kidnappings and ransom demands have become routine in these hilly areas of Teknaf.
Approximately 10–12 robbery groups, comprising at least 150 armed members, are involved in this abduction business.
They are equipped with modern automatic weapons.
The authorities primarily focus on rescuing victims or negotiating ransom payments, without addressing the root causes.
This lack of permanent solutions has fueled fear and anger among the locals.
A member of Baharchhara Union, speaking on anonymity, said: “People in this area avoid stepping outside after dusk due to fear of abduction. Over the last five months, there have been over 50 abduction incidents in my area. Most victims were released after paying ransom. Out of fear of being killed, victims often avoid going to the police.”
Victims have expressed frustration, claiming that law enforcement agencies fail to solve most abduction cases.
They show some activity during and immediately after an abduction but make little progress in investigating or arresting the criminals involved.
In this regard, Muhammad Gias Uddin, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model Police Station, said: “With the help of technology, we try to determine the location of the abductees. From January to December 24 of last year, we successfully rescued 138 abducted individuals and arrested several criminals in connection with 20 cases.”
Lieutenant Colonel HM Sajjad Hossain, Commander of RAB-15, said: “RAB has increased surveillance in remote hilly areas. In several operations, many criminals have been arrested. Most recently, on Tuesday, 18 abducted individuals were rescued alive after an extensive operation in the forest. Efforts to rescue the remaining victims are ongoing.”
