Nizam Uddin, the Ruma branch manager of Sonali Bank who was abducted during a robbery in Bandarban last Tuesday night, has finally been rescued through mediation of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Thursday evening.
RAB’s Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Khandaker Al Moin confirmed the matter to the media, adding that Nizam has been taken to the RAB camp in the area.
Earlier the same day, Nizam Uddin’s wife Nazmul Nahar – a teacher of Bandarban Cantonment Public School and College – told media that the KNF in a phone call had demanded Tk 15 lakh ransom from her, in exchange for releasing her husband.
Three branches of two banks in Bandarban’s Ruma and Thanchi were robbed within 16 hours throughout last Tuesday and Wednesday. The incident, spanning last Tuesday and Wednesday, has triggered unease among the local residents.
A number of teams belonging to different law enforcement agencies are investigating the series of robberies. Moreover, the operations of all banks – including Sonali Bank – in three upazilas of Ruma, Thanchi and Rowangchhari of Bandarban have been declared closed until further notice.
Osman Gani, deputy general manager of Sonali Bank branch in Bandarban Sadar, told reporters on Thursday that the decision was taken on security grounds. Customers of different banks in the three upazilas can withdraw money from the respective bank branches in the district town.
Meanwhile, Bandarban Hill District Council Chairman and Convener of the Peace Establishment Committee Kya Shai Hla announced the suspension of peace negotiations with the KNF.
Suspension of peace negotiations with KNF
Kya Shai Hla, in a press briefing at the Bandarban Zilla Parishad conference room on Thursday morning, denied holding any discussion with the KNF until the outfit releases the abducted bank manager, returns 14 looted arms, money and stops all criminal activities.
Hla, who is also president of the district peace committee, said a view-exchange meeting with the participation of representatives from several groups to facilitate KNF members’ return to normal life was held on May 29 last year.
On June 30, an 18-member peace committee was formed with the coordination of local leaders. Later several virtual meetings between the peace committee and the KNF were held to return peace in the district, he said.
On November 5 last year and March 5 this year, a couple of in-person dialogues with the group were held and two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed when KNF assured that it will suspend all armed activities, he informed.
Panic among local residents
The closed businesses in Thanchi Upazila Sadar were opened on Thursday morning, but the amount of crowds was minimal.
Thanchi Bazar Traders Association General Secretary Jaseem Uddin told the media that the recent incident has made the local residents and traders very scared. Because of that, all businesses were closed except for essential shops such as pharmacies.
"The market shops have opened today [Thursday]. But everyone is uncomfortable. Less people are coming to the markets,” he added.
Weekly haat is held in Thanchi Bazaar every Sunday and Wednesday, and hundreds of boats carrying goods usually dock there. At least 25 to 30 boats carrying goods dock there on other days of the week.
But not even 10 boats were visible on Thursday. Traders claimed that there are not even half as many customers on Thursday, as there are on other days.
Stern action against bank robbers
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Thursday vowed to take stern action against those who were involved in armed attack and bank robbery in Bandarban.
“Bank robbery is not a small incident. Necessary measures will be taken as directed by the Prime Minister to strictly suppress the Kuki-chin members,” he told the journalists at his ministry office.
Kamal said those who committed incidents like bank robbery, armed looting and kidnapping of Sonali Bank Manager at Ruma and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarban, will be ensured exemplary punishment.
“We will ensure exemplary punishment. We will identify whoever is behind the cause of this incident and take action."
Replying to a question about geo-political issues, the minister said, "We do not have any such information yet. There could be many things. We cannot say anything without getting proper information.
“We don't know why they suddenly had such an incident. But whatever for their purpose they do these things; we will not spare any of them. We are searching for them.”
The minister said all sorts of measures will be taken-after getting information about the robbery and kidnapping and snatching firearms.
He added that his ministry has been working in the same way as intelligence agencies are providing information.
Kamal said, “We have not yet received any information about sabotage on Pahela Boishakh or anything else. Even if it doesn't come again, our precautions are being taken. We will find out the reason for the attack. Those who are responsible will be identified and brought to book.”
He said that all hideouts of Kuki Chin were eliminated by the RAB and Army, adding, “Later they crossed our border and took shelter in some other countries and started their activities again. They were also staying there.”
“Now they came from where and how we don’t know, sometimes their representatives talk to us. They also said that they want peace. But suddenly attacks and bank robberies were new to us. Moreover stern action will be taken against those involved in these incidents.”
