Teknaf, Bangladesh: A Burmese refugee was kidnapped by unknown miscreants on August 21, while he was going to Nila market, near the refugee camp to buy medicines for his sick son, said his father.

The victim has been identified as Md. Rofique (24), son of Rashid Ahmed. He hailed from the Nayapara refugee camp.

When the victim did not come back to the camp on time, his father, informed the Camp-in-Charge (CIC) of the refugee camp, Teknaf Police Station and RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), that his son was missing. However, the authorities concerned did not find any clue regarding his whereabouts.

However, a day later, the kidnappers contacted the victim’s mother over mobile phone and asked her to pay Taka 100,000 as ransom for her son.  His mother told them that they (victim’s family members) were refugees, so they did not have money to fulfill the kidnappers’ demand, the victim’s mother said.

The victim was brought to the gate of Nayapara refugee camp on August 24, in the early morning by a car and dropped there.  After that, the victim went to the camp. When he came to the camp, his family members saw many marks on his body.

After he arrived at the camp, he was admitted at the clinic of the camp, and has been undergoing medical treatment.

A relative of the victim, who declined to be named said, “It is a strange event because a refugee was kidnapped by unknown persons for money.”

The victim said, “When I was on the way to the camp after buying medicines from Nila market, some unknown persons picked me up and put me forcibly into their car and then drove out quickly from the scene and went to their destination. I was confined in a room, where I was fed little food. I did not remember anyone and the place as they were wearing black masks, when they met me.