A senior official of a readymade garment factory in Chittagong was rescued on Saturday night after being abducted allegedly by leaders of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal over extortion demands.
Around 10 pm on Saturday, the event happened close to the Azim Group’s factory in Chandgaon’s BSCIC Industrial Area. At around 10:30 p.m., police rescued Shafiul Alam, a senior supervisor at Azim Group Garments, who had been taken by force by the accused. But before they were apprehended, the kidnappers were able to flee, according to Aftab Uddin, OC of Chandgaon Police Station.
Md. Sohel, a leader of the Chandgaon Thana Jubo Dal, and Alfaz, the convener of the Chandgaon Thana Chhatra Dal, were named as suspects in a case that Shafiul Alam filed with the Chandgaon police. According to reports, Abu Sufian, a former convener of the BNP’s Chattogram South District branch, is the leader of both groups. The police are still working to capture the suspects.
In his statement, Shafiul Alam alleged that while returning home from work around 10 pm, Sohel and three to four unidentified men forcibly dragged him into a CNG auto-rickshaw. They took him to an isolated area near the railway tracks at C&B Tekbazar, where he was physically assaulted. The kidnappers then contacted his family via phone, demanding a ransom of Taka 5,00,000. Following the call, the victim’s family sought police assistance, leading to his rescue.
Journalist Amzad Hossain, the son of Shafiul Alam, claimed that Sohel and Alfaz had been harassing his father with false accusations for the previous few days. He asserted that nothing was done even after alerting Chhatra Dal leaders two days prior. He further disclosed that Taka 70,000 had previously been extorted from his father in the name of the BNP, and that Taka 1,50,000 had been included in previous extortion demands.
Saiful Alam, president of the Chittagong Metropolitan Chhatra Dal, stated that although preliminary enquiries did not reveal Alfaz’s participation, a comprehensive probe is still underway. Alfaz has denied any involvement, he added, and if found guilty, he should be expelled. He made it clear that if there was any proof that implicated him, severe action would be taken.
Police are still working to capture the alleged perpetrators of the kidnapping and extortion attempt.
