Members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) rescued an eight‑month‑old child, who was abducted from Kutupalong Rohingya camp in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.
Police said five people were arrested on charges of demanding Tk70,000 in ransom and later attempting to sell the child twice.
On Wednesday night, police conducted an operation in Paschim Maricha area of Haldia Palong union, Ukhiya, and recovered the child. The baby was found in the custody of Maimuna Akter and her husband Nurul Amin.
The arrestees are Md Rashid Alam, 30; his wife, Rujina Akhtar, 28; Taslima Akhtar, 25; Maimuna Akter, 29; and her husband, Nurul Amin, 38.
Mohammad Siraj Amin, commanding officer (additional DIG) of 14 APBn confirmed the arrest.
According to police, the incident occurred around 6:30pm on 6 September.
Taiba Begum, 35, a resident of B-2 Block of Kutupalong Rohingya Camp-2 West, went to Kutupalong market to buy medicine. She was accompanied by her seven-year-old niece, Rehena, and her son, Kader.
In front of Younus’s medicine shop, Taiba’s former husband, Md Rashid Alam, 30, forcibly snatched the baby.
Rashid, demanded Tk70,000 through Taiba’s mobile phone. He threatened to sell the child elsewhere if the ransom was not paid.
On 15 September, Rashid was summoned to Taiba’s shed to recover the child. He disclosed that he and his current wife, Rujina Akhtar, 28, had sold Kader to their neighbour, Taslima Akhtar, 25, for Tk15,000.
Taslima and Rujina were brought to the shed through Rashid, and the matter was reported to police through the Camp in-Charge (CiC) office. The individuals were then taken to the camp for questioning.
During interrogation, they revealed that Kader had been sold for a second time for Tk30,000 to Maimuna Akter, 29, and her husband, Nurul Amin, 38, of Paschim Maricha in Ward No 1 under Haldia Palong Union in Ukhiya.
Acting on the information, a police team led by Suman Bhakta, Inspector of Police and Operation Officer of Balurmath Police Camp, raided Maimuna’s house in Paschim Maricha on Wednesday night.
The team rescued Kader and arrested all five people involved in the crime.
Additional DIG Mohammad Siraj Amin said the infant had been recovered and that a regular case was being registered. Legal proceedings against the arrested individuals are underway.
