District News
Combing drive to rescue DANIDA officials
By UNB, Bandarban
Wed, 27 Jun 2007, 12:50:00

The abducted two staff members of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), a donor agency, were yet to be rescued although a combing operation has been under way since their abduction Tuesday. The two DANIDA officials were abducted to realize Tk 40 lakh in ransom by armed miscreants from Kheburipara in the hill district's Thanchhi upazila on Monday afternoon.

Police said that about a dozen masked gunmen picked up DANIDA project officer Shahid Suman, 45, and driver M Hanif, 37, at about 4pm while the official was holding a meeting with local NGO workers on development matters.

Over 300 members of joint forces are continuing combing operation in the hill forests to arrest the abductors and rescue the DANIDA men, sources said. Deputy Commissioner M Abdul Majid, police super Abdul Kader and commanding officer of BDR's 37 battalion Moazzem Hossain visited the remote Kheburipara locality Wednesday.

The DC said the DANIDA officials did not inform the administration about their meeting at the remote village while Thanchhi thana and BDR camp were close by the meeting spot.

Meanwhile, a three-member DANIDA team led by First Secretary of the Danish Embassy in Dhaka Crintan Clony Jar Jonson visited the spot Wednesday and held separate meetings with NGO officials. The five suspects held by the joint forces - Khiburi Karbari, Ungsa Pru, Thamu Marma, Chasapu Chai and Shai Hanla Pru Marma-are being interrogated.


© Copyright 2003 by ittefaq.com