Staff Correspondent

The Detective Branch (DB) of Police has rescued Kazi Raisul Islam alias Selim, 45, Chairman of the Moukoron Union Parishad of Patuakhali district, who had been abducted from the Ekuria area of Dokkhin Keraniganj on Wednesday.

Selim was rescued on Thursday afternoon from a building located south of Doleswar Government Primary School in Dokkhin Keraniganj.

In connection with the abduction, police arrested five members of a kidnapping gang from various areas of Dokkhin Keraniganj.

The arrested individuals are Mohammad Farhad, 34, Toufiq Rahat, 20, Ripon Mahmud Nayan, 27, Md. Amir Hossain, 65, and Mohammad Didar, 25.

According to sources from the Detective Branch (DB), the UP chairman left Patuakhali for Dhaka at approximately 11:30 pm on December 31, 2024.

On January 1, at around 6 am, Selim called his wife and informed her that when the bus he was traveling on reached Ekuria BRTA area, 15 to 20 unidentified individuals boarded the bus.

They intimidated the driver, conductor, and other passengers, forced Selim off the bus, and abducted him in a private car.

One of the kidnappers then contacted his wife and demanded a ransom of Tk 1 crore, threatening to kill Selim if the money was not paid.

Since the incident, the victim's mobile phone has been turned off.

Later, the DB's Organized Crime, Car Theft Prevention, and Rescue Team, under the Mirpur Division, conducted raids in the area following the report of the victim's wife.

According to DB sources, the kidnappers held Selim captive for two days, during which he was subjected to severe physical torture.

Further legal action is currently underway, DB added.