Bangladeshi arrested in Libya for kidnapping another expat

A Bangladeshi expatriate has been arrested in Libya on allegation of kidnapping another Bangladeshi expatriate in the North African country recently.

The victim was identified as Md Imadul of Chuadanga while the suspected kidnapper is Abdul Khaleque of Dinajpur, said a social media post of the Bangladesh mission in Tripoli.

The post added that local police had rescued Imadul following the arrest of Khaleque and the "mastermind" behind the kidnapping.

According to the post, published today, Imadul – who has been in Libya for a long time -- was kidnapped on Tuesday around 10:30pm local time from his workplace in the city of Sabratah.

After learning of the incident from other Bangladeshi expatriates, Bangladesh mission there contacted Imadul's employer and later communicated with local police to lodge a formal complaint over the incident.

Meanwhile, suspected members of the kidnapping gang called Imadul's son in Bangladesh on instant messaging app Imo and sent a video clip of torture and demanded Tk 10 lakh as ransom for Imadul's release, said the Bangladesh mission's post.

The Bangladesh mission said Bangladeshi expatriates there started to suspect Khaleque, another expatriate, might have been involved in the incident.

Later, local police based on information and with help from Imadul's employer and Bangladeshis, arrested Khaleque in connection with the incident.

The Bangladesh mission, however, did not specify on which day Khaleque was nabbed.

The mission said Khaleque admitted his involvement in the incident during primary interrogation and also disclosed names of his Libyan cohorts.

Later, law enforcers there arrested the "mastermind" behind the incident and based on his information, rescued Imadul.

Currently, Imadul is undergoing treatment at a hospital under the supervision of his employer, according to the mission.

A legal process is underway against Khaleque and the other suspects.