With the latest incident involving eight people were being abducted from the Whykong-Shamlapur road in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila on Tuesday morning, a total of 27 individuals kidnapped over the past two days.
Inspector Shobhon Kumar Saha of Baharchara Investigation Centre reported that two CNG-run autorickshaws were stopped by suspected robbers, who abducted the passengers and drivers. "An operation is underway, and the autorickshaws have been recovered, but the exact number of abductees is yet to be confirmed," Saha said.
Earlier, on Monday, 18 individuals, including three Forest Department officials, were kidnapped while planting saplings on the hills. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of Tk 18 lakh for their release.
Another individual, Jashim Uddin, was abducted the same night from Baharchara Union, according to local authorities.
Authorities, including police, Rapid Action Battalion and the Armed Police Battalion, are conducting operations to rescue the victims. However, the challenging terrain in the hilly areas complicates the efforts.
Cox's Bazar district police superintendent Mohammad Rahmat Ali explained the logistical difficulties: "Police in the area lack the equipment for extensive raids, which is why additional support has been sought from the district administration."
From August to December 2024, 14 abduction cases were filed at Teknaf Police Station, leading to the identification of 65 suspects and the arrest of 30 individuals.
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin assured the public of full support to law enforcement to recover the abductees and restore safety to the region.
