Rajshahi, Apr 18 (V7N) – In a successful joint operation, Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has rescued a madrasa teacher who was abducted in Dhaka and subsequently held in Rajshahi. Four individuals believed to be involved in the kidnapping have been apprehended.

"RAB has rescued a madrasa teacher who was kidnapped in Dhaka from Rajshahi. Four people involved in the incident have been arrested... He was rescued from in front of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on the night of Thursday, April 17," reported a Rajshahi Correspondent.

The rescued madrasa teacher has been identified as Md. Rifatul Islam, 25 years old.

"The name of the rescued madrasa teacher is Md. Rifatul Islam (25)," the report confirmed.

The four individuals arrested in connection with the kidnapping are Rabiul Islam (27), Rubel Chowdhury (27), Nazmul Hossain (42), and Nahid Miaj (35). All four are residents of different areas within Rajshahi. This information was released by RAB in a press statement on Friday afternoon.

"The arrested are Rabiul Islam (27), Rubel Chowdhury (27), Nazmul Hossain (42) and Nahid Miaj (35). Their homes are in different areas of Rajshahi. RAB gave this information in a press release on Friday afternoon," the correspondent detailed.

According to RAB, Rifatul Islam departed from Ashulia in Dhaka on the night of April 5th, en route to his workplace in Hazaribagh. He subsequently went missing. On April 7th, his family received a ransom call from the kidnappers, demanding one lakh taka for his safe return. The family reportedly paid a total of over one and a half lakh taka in installments through Rifatul's bKash mobile financial account. However, despite these payments, Rifatul was not released.

"RAB said that Rifatul left for his workplace Hazaribagh from Ashulia in Dhaka on the night of April 5. He then went missing. On April 7, the kidnappers called his family and demanded a ransom of one lakh taka. They sent money in installments through Rifatul's bKash. He was not released even after paying a total of more than one and a half lakh taka," the report stated.

Following the family's complaint to RAB-4 (a Dhaka-based unit), a joint operation was launched by RAB-4 and RAB-5 (the Rajshahi-based unit). Utilizing intelligence gathering and information technology, they successfully located and rescued Rifatul Islam in front of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on the night of Thursday, April 17th.

"Finally, when the family members complained to RAB-4, Rifatul was rescued in a joint operation by RAB-4 and RAB-5 with the help of intelligence investigation and information technology," the report concluded.

The successful rescue operation and the arrest of the four alleged kidnappers bring a sense of relief to Rifatul Islam's family and highlight the effectiveness of inter-unit cooperation within RAB in tackling such criminal activities. Further investigation is likely underway to determine the full extent of the conspiracy and any other individuals who may be involved.

END/RAR/RH