10 fishermen abducted by robbers buy freedom
Ten fishermen, abducted by Sundarbans robbers for ransom about a week ago, were freed on payment of ransom on Saturday night.
The released fishermen are Didarul Islam of village Baishkhali, Azizul Islam of village Shailkhali, Safiqul Islam of village Kaikhali, Karim Barkandaz of village Malenga, Nazrul Islam and Zahangir of village Jayakhali, Safiqul Islam of village Purbo Kaikhali, Anowar Sheikh of village Naikati, Shahidul Dhali of village Sapkati and Mosharraf Hossain of village Kalinchi under Kaikhali union parishad (UP) in Shyamnagar upazila.
Relatives of the victims said that the fishermen went to the Sundarbans on April 22.
While they were catching fish on two boats in Baikari area of the Baro Canal the next day, a gang of forest robbers swooped on them.
They looted cash and other valuables from the boats, abducted the ten fishermen and asked their families to pay Tk 2,75,000 within next seven days "failing which the fishermen will face a dire consequence".
Kaikhali UP chairman Rezaul Karim said that local administration on behalf of the victims paid Tk 2,40,000 to the robbers. Later they released the fishermen near Baikari area in the Sundarbans.
Rezaul said they sent the ransom money at different addresses in Khulna town in four instalments as per the instruction of the robbers.
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