The 26 rubber workers abducted from Lama, Bandarban, on Saturday have still not been released, even after two days.
The workers were taken from Murung Jhiripara in Fasiyakhali Union of the upazila in the late hours of the night.
The workers were taken from several rubber plantations, including Murongchhari Rubber Garden, Nur Mohammad Rubber Company, Ahsan Ullah Rubber Company, Humayun Rubber Company, Sonamiya Rubber Company, and Abul Kalam Rubber Company. These gardens are jointly owned by Forkan Ahmed, 48, and Shahjahan.
The kidnapped individuals include: Faruk, 26; Ayub Ali, 26; Siddiq, 40; Abdul Khalek, 20; Abdul Majed, 17; Monirul Islam, 30; Ziaur Rahman, 45; Mobarak, 25; Harun, 30; Romiz Uddin, 30; Syed Nur, 28; Kaisar, 38; Monir Hossain, 35; Imran, 17; Manjur, 30; Afsar Ali, 25; Khairul Amin, 30; Abu Bakkar, 29; Abdur Razzak, 33; and Mobin, 25. The names of the remaining individuals are yet to be confirmed.
While it remains unclear who exactly is behind the abductions, local sources suspect the involvement of an armed group.
Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the army have been conducting operations since the incident to rescue the workers, but no progress has been made in their release.
According to local reports, the abductors have demanded a ransom from the workers' families. Police have confirmed the abduction of 22 workers, but locals report that a total of 26 were taken. The ransom demand is said to be Tk50,000 taka per person.
Shahjahan, the owner of Murongchhari Rubber Garden, confirmed that 12 workers from his plantation were abducted, with a total ransom demand of Tl600,000. In total, 26 workers were abducted from six rubber plantations.
Lama police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Shahadat Hossain said that the workers have yet to be rescued, with ongoing efforts by the police, BGB, and army personnel.
This incident follows a similar abduction on February 1, when seven workers were taken from the Lingpung area of Sori Union in Lama Upazila. They were released after a joint forces operation.
