Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
Rohingya residents in Tankhali Camp 13 in Bangladesh foiled a kidnapping attempt on Wednesday, rescuing an infant and detaining two suspects who allegedly tried to abduct the child and demand a ransom. The incident took place in the Hattol Gaastalaar market area, Block B-3.
Eyewitnesses told Arakan News Agency that the suspects, both residents of Kutupalong, kidnapped the infant and took the child to a nearby farm area surrounded by trees.
They then attempted to demand a ransom of 500,000 Bangladeshi taka. However, several local residents noticed their suspicious behavior, quickly gathered, intervened, and managed to detain the suspects and rescue the child.
Residents confirmed that the infant was saved without any harm and that the situation was brought under control before handing the suspects over to police, who have launched an investigation to take legal action.
Earlier this July, Rohingya refugees in the camps also foiled another kidnapping attempt, with police arresting one of the perpetrators. In a separate case, a Rohingya girl was abducted and her kidnappers demanded a large ransom from her family. In June, the body of a Rohingya child was found murdered just one day after his abduction when his family failed to pay the ransom. Bangladeshi authorities later arrested a key suspect linked to a major kidnapping ring operating in Cox’s Bazar.
In recent months, several incidents have further raised alarm: a young Rohingya man was tortured after being kidnapped by unidentified individuals, and a child named “Mohammed Arakan” was buried in the sand by his captors, who sent images of him to his family demanding 700,000 taka (approximately $5,700) for his release. Another young Rohingya, Abu Yusuf, recounted his kidnapping and torture at the hands of unknown assailants in the camps before being released after his family paid a ransom.
Over one million Rohingya refugees live in the Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar, particularly following the 2017 “genocidal campaign” by the Myanmar military. The United Nations describes Cox’s Bazar as the world’s largest refugee camp.
