A food inspector abducted in broad daylight from Khulna’s No. 4 Ghat was rescued by police five and a half hours later following a swift and coordinated operation.
Sushanta Kumar Majumder, the officer-in-charge of the No. 4 Ghat food office, was forcibly taken around 7:00 PM on Sunday (13 July) by a group posing as law enforcement officers. Eyewitnesses and mobile phone footage show him being handcuffed and led away by five individuals, two of whom have been identified as Md. Reza and Babu Mondal.
Eyewitnesses captured parts of the abduction on mobile phone videos, showing the inspector being overpowered and led away by the fake officers. Panic spread quickly in the area, prompting locals to notify authorities.
Within hours, Sushanta’s wife, Madhabi Rani Majumder, lodged a formal complaint at Khulna Sadar Police Station. She alleged that one of the abductors, Babu Mondal, had previously attempted to extort money from her husband—demands that Sushanta had consistently refused. She grew increasingly concerned after both of Sushanta’s mobile phones were found switched off shortly after the abduction.
Responding swiftly, Khulna Metropolitan Police launched a joint rescue operation, coordinating with surrounding police units and river patrols. As pressure mounted, the abductors abandoned Sushanta at a school field under the jurisdiction of Terokhada Police Station, where he was located and rescued around 12:30 AM. He received initial medical attention for minor injuries, including bruises from physical assault.
“Sushanta was beaten and moved by boat under the cover of darkness. Fortunately, coordinated efforts helped us track and recover him before things escalated,” said Hawladar Sanwar Hossain Masum, Officer-in-Charge of Khulna Sadar Police Station.
The police have confirmed that legal action is being taken against the identified suspects, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining three individuals involved in the abduction.
Abul Bashar Mohammad Atikur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of the Counter Terrorism and Special Branch (CTSB) of Khulna Metropolitan Police, confirmed the rescue and emphasized that investigations would also explore the suspects’ potential involvement in similar crimes or extortion rackets.
This incident has prompted local officials and residents to raise alarms over the increasing misuse of police identity in crimes. Security has been tightened in the area, particularly along the river routes, which have often been exploited for quick escapes.
Authorities are also considering the possibility that the abduction was linked to Sushanta’s professional duties, potentially involving food supply inspections or crackdowns. Police have not ruled out motives tied to official resistance to extortion or illegal food trade operations.
As of Monday afternoon, Sushanta remains under observation but is said to be in stable condition.