Sohel Kanti Nath, Bandarban

Seven workers kidnapped in Lama were rescued in a joint force operation in Bandarban on Tuesday.

They were rescued from the Luline area of Sarai Union of the upazila on Monday night. The rescued workers are Md. Nurul (50), Md. Alamgir (35), Md. Shafi Alam (32), Md. Helal (40) and Md. Jamal (32). The names of the other two are not known.

Police said that on February 1, 7 workers were kidnapped at gunpoint to work in a farm house in Sarai Union of Lama. Since the kidnapping, a team of joint forces has been conducting a rescue operation in the area and surrounding areas. On Monday night, members of the joint force rescued the 7 kidnapped workers during an operation in the Luline area of Sarai Union. It is believed that the terrorists left the workers in the Luline area and fled after collecting the ransom. However, law enforcement agencies have not yet been able to arrest anyone involved in the incident.

In this regard, Bandarban district's Additional Superintendent of Police Abdul Karim said that the terrorists released the kidnapped workers on Monday evening. The terrorists released them in the face of a police and army operation. They are now with their families.

It is worth noting that the terrorists kidnapped 7 workers from the same area late on January 14. Later, the abductees were released after paying a large ransom.

On Saturday (February 1) early in the morning, the terrorists kidnapped seven workers from the Luline area of Lama upazila. Since then, joint forces have been conducting a rescue operation.

Police Sub-Inspector (SI) Atiqur Rahman, in-charge of the investigation center of the Keyajupara police outpost in Sarai union of Lama upazila, said that the seven rescued workers have been handed over to the family members in the custody of the plantation owner. They are all healthy.

Earlier, the terrorists kidnapped seven workers from the same area late on January 14. Later, joint forces conducted an operation and rescued them unharmed a day later.