Dhaka schoolgirl rescued in Cox’s Bazar after abduction, two arrested

A schoolgirl who was abducted from the capital's Dhanmondi area has been rescued safely from Cox’s Bazar in a joint intelligence-led operation by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Two suspects, including the alleged mastermind behind the abduction, have been arrested in connection with the incident.

According to a statement issued by RAB-15 on Wednesday (May 13), the victim — an eighth-grade student of Maple Leaf International School — was forcibly abducted from in front of her residence on Road 13/A in Dhanmondi on May 6. The abductors allegedly used a white Hiace microbus to carry out the kidnapping.

Following the incident, the victim’s family filed an abduction case with Dhanmondi Model Police Station. Acting on confidential information and technology-based surveillance, RAB later traced the suspects to Jhilonja Union in Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila.

Based on the intelligence input, RAB-15 conducted a raid on Tuesday evening near the Bangladesh Betar office on Cox’s Bazar Link Road. Around 8:00pm, the abducted student was rescued unharmed from the area.

During the operation, law enforcers arrested the alleged mastermind, Towhid Mohammad Mostakim, 33, along with his associate Md Abu Sayeed, 24. Mostakim is a resident of Uttara in Dhaka, while Abu Sayeed hails from Rajapalong Union in Ukhiya.

RAB said the detainees initially confessed to their involvement in the abduction during preliminary interrogation.

Investigators learned that the prime accused had allegedly been harassing the victim for a long time. After failing to receive a response to his proposal, he and his associates allegedly abducted the schoolgirl and took her to Cox’s Bazar.

The rescued student and the two accused have been handed over to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station for further legal proceedings.

RAB-15 Assistant Director (Law and Media) A M Faruk said operations against crime and threats to public safety would continue across the country.