Resort owner, two tourists abducted while visiting Sundarbans rescued

A resort owner and two tourists, who were abducted by armed robbers while visiting the Sundarbans in Bagerhat on Friday afternoon, were rescued tonight.

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"They were rescued by the Coast Guard from the forest at around 8:00pm. They are in good health," said Shukla Saha, Additional DIG (Supernumerary Promoted) of Tourist Police in Khulna Region.

She, however, did not provide further details immediately.

The abduction took place in the Kenur Khal area adjacent to the Sundarbans, under the Dhangmari area of the Chandpai Range.

Dacope Police Station officer-in-charge Md Atikur Rahman said two tourists and a resort owner were abducted while visiting a resort in the Sundarbans.

He said that the abductors reportedly demanded a large ransom.

According to local administration, forest department and local sources, four tourists, including men and women, entered the Sundarbans from Dhaka on Friday and checked into the 'Gol Kanan' resort in Dhangmari area around noon, planning an overnight stay.

Later in the afternoon, resort owner Shripati Bachhar and the four tourists boarded a boat to explore a narrow canal inside the forest. Armed robbers intercepted the boat and abducted five people, including women, from the canal near the resort.

The gang later released two female tourists and sent them back to the resort the same night, while the resort owner and two male tourists were kept hostage.

Uttam Bachhar, younger brother of the resort owner, confirmed the incident.

Dhangmari Forest Department station officer Surjit Choudhury said he had heard about the incident but could not confirm which gang was involved.

Although the abduction occurred on Friday, local sources said the resort authorities initially tried to keep the matter secret. Two of the abducted tourists are residents of Dhaka, though their identities could not be immediately confirmed.

Following the incident, no tourist boats or visitors were seen in the resort area throughout yesterday, with local sources reporting panic among tourists.