KHULNA, Apr 2: Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-6 have rescued an abducted 18-month-old girl, Rafsa, from Khulna City and arrested an alleged kidnapper in this connection.
RAB sources said, the child was rescued during a drive conducted in the city's Koia Bazar area on Wednesday night, where the accused Nayan Sheikh was also apprehended.
According to locals, Nayan had been living as a tenant at the house of Ranga Mia, adjacent to the residence of Rafsa's father, Abdur Rashid Khan, in Chhoto Bahirdia Village under Fakirhat Upazila of Bagerhat.
The two families had a close relationship and frequently visited each other.
On Wednesday around 11 am, Nayan's wife took the child from her mother Tuli Begum's lap on the pretext of carrying her for a while and went to their house.
Later, instead of returning the child, she left the house with the girl.
When the family went to inquire, they were told that the child had been taken to a nearby shop.
However, as time passed and the couple did not return, Rafsa's parents began searching for their daughter.
Later, when contacted over mobile phone, the abductors allegedly demanded money for the child's release and threatened to kill her if the ransom was not paid.
Following the incident, the child's father filed a general diary with Fakirhat Police Station, prompting law enforcers, including RAB, to launch an investigation.
RAB-6 Company Commander Major Md Nazmul Islam said they came to know in the afternoon that the child had been brought to Khulna after being abducted. Acting on the information, RAB intensified intelligence surveillance and conducted an operation.
"After around six hours of operation, we successfully rescued the child from Koia Bazar area and arrested Nayan Sheikh. The child was found safe and unharmed," he added.
Legal action against the accused is underway, the RAB official said.
