Intervention by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman Triggers Rapid Police Operation to Save Abducted Schoolboy
A 14-year-old ninth-grader, the son of Khondkar Shamim Hasan, who works as a darkroom assistant at the Press Information Department under the information ministry, was abducted by unknown individuals in front of Shantinagar’s Popular Diagnostic Centre after attending coaching classes around 3:30 pm.
Reportedly, while riding his bicycle back home, the boy was intercepted by two men who forcibly took him to a nearby abandoned building, as per his family’s account.
Shamim shared with The Daily Star that the abductors transported his son to the seventh floor of a 10-story under-construction building in the vicinity, physically assaulted him, and confiscated his mobile phone.
“They used my son’s phone to contact my wife and demanded Tk 50,000, threatening further harm if we did not comply. After explaining our financial constraints, they reduced the demand to Tk 30,000,” Shamim disclosed.
Upon receiving news of the abduction while at the Secretariat, Shamim promptly headed to Ramna Police Station. Upon realizing that Prime Minister Tarique was still present, he hurried back to the Secretariat.
As the Prime Minister was preparing to depart, Shamim sought to approach him but was initially obstructed by security personnel. Following a brief explanation of the urgency, he was granted an audience.
Shamim recounted, “Despite the Prime Minister being surrounded by a crowd, he discerned the urgency in my plea and requested a detailed account.” Subsequently, Tarique promptly instructed the deputy commissioner of Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police to ensure the boy’s safe rescue.
“In less than an hour, law enforcement successfully retrieved my son from the abandoned building,” Shamim confirmed.
A senior official from DMP, on condition of anonymity, verified that Tarique had personally contacted and instructed the Ramna Division DC to take immediate action.
“In response, a police operation was swiftly launched, leading to the recovery of the boy from the seventh floor of an abandoned building adjacent to Popular Diagnostic Centre in Shantinagar. However, the culprits managed to evade capture upon sensing police presence,” the official stated.
The child was reunited with his family, and as of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.