Tawhidul Islam, Cox's Bazar 

A group of armed criminals has abducted a man named Mohammad Delowar (25) from the hills of Baharchhara in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar while he was collecting thatch grass. The victim’s family claims that the kidnappers have demanded a ransom of 1 million BDT (10 lakh taka) for his release.Delowar is the son of the late Abdul Karim Mistry from the Marishbunia area of Baharchhara.The incident occurred around 7:00 AM on Monday, confirmed Farid Ullah, a member of Ward 7 of the Baharchhara Union Parishad.According to Farid Ullah, three residents of the same area — Mohammad Delowar (25), Abdu Salam (50), and Hasan Ahmad (45) — had gone to the hills to collect thatch. At that time, an armed group chased them and managed to capture Delowar. The other two, Abdu Salam and Hasan Ahmad, narrowly escaped.

Delowar’s wife, Nur Nahar Begum, reported receiving multiple phone calls between noon and evening from the kidnappers demanding a ransom of 10 lakh taka. They also threatened that if the ransom wasn’t paid, she should be prepared to receive her husband’s body. The family has informed the local administration of the incident.

The UP member added that such abductions have become a regular occurrence in the region, with the armed criminals operating from the hills and extorting ransom money from locals.The two survivors reported that the kidnappers were heavily armed and took Delowar deep into the forest at gunpoint.

Nur Nahar Begum, the wife of the abducted man, said, “They have called me several times since the afternoon, demanding 10 lakh taka for my husband's release. But there is no way I can manage such a huge amount. They are torturing him and making us hear it over the phone to pressure us into paying.”Inspector Shuvo Ranjan Saha, in-charge of the Baharchhara Investigation Center, said, “We have heard about the abduction, but the family has not yet filed any formal complaint. However, the police have started investigating the matter.”According to Cox’s Bazar district police and victim accounts, a total of 245 people have been abducted from different parts of Teknaf in the past 15 months alone.