Arakan News Agency | Exclusive
On Thursday morning, the Armed Police Battalion successfully rescued a four-year-old Rohingya girl named Noor Shehera after she was kidnapped from the Lambashia 1 West camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the day before. She was found unharmed.
According to the Arakan News Agency correspondent, the girl was abducted on Wednesday morning while on her way to visit her grandfather’s house in Camp 1 East. Shortly after her disappearance, the family received a call from unknown kidnappers using a local number, demanding a ransom of 500,000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately $4,080 USD) and threatening to harm the child if the police were involved.
After the incident was reported, Armed Police Battalion-14 launched an emergency operation under the direction of Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Siraj Amin, conducting multiple raids in suspected areas.
The kidnappers, sensing police pressure, abandoned the child in the Kutupalong area and fled. A patrol from Lambashia Police Station found Nur Shahira on Thursday morning, identified her, and returned her safely to her family.
Camp residents and local authorities praised the quick response of the police and the cooperation of the local community. Investigations are ongoing to identify and arrest the culprits.
Kidnappings of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps occur almost daily, often with demands for large ransoms that families are usually unable to afford.
Among such incidents was the abduction and torture of a young man named Jahid Hussain in Kutupalong, who was released only after his family paid a ransom of 40,000 Taka. In another case, a five-year-old boy, Mohammad Arakan, was kidnapped and buried in sand by abductors who sent photos to his family demanding 700,000 Taka ($5,700 USD) for his release.
Previously, a Rohingya man was found dead a week after his kidnapping when his impoverished family failed to pay the 800,000 Taka ($6,600 USD) ransom. Another survivor, Abu Yusuf, recounted his ordeal of abduction and torture in the camps, where his release also came after his family paid a ransom.
In December last year, Bangladeshi authorities announced the rescue of 19 Rohingya refugees kidnapped and tortured by an armed group, with 14 members of the group arrested.
These recurring abductions continue to threaten the safety of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps. Authorities claim they are working to crack down on kidnappers through ongoing security operations. Bangladeshi media reports indicate a rise in abduction cases among the Rohingya, especially in the hilly Teknaf region.
More than one million Rohingya refugees currently live in the Cox’s Bazar region of Bangladesh after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar during the military’s 2017 “genocidal campaign.” The United Nations describes Cox’s Bazar as the world’s largest refugee camp.
