Rab arrests madrasa teacher for kidnapping former student

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), on Friday, arrested a madrasa teacher from Dhaka's Airport Railway Station area in connection with kidnapping a child.

The arrestee was identified as Mainul Islam, 24, a teacher of Sayedatul Abrar Madrasa in Noakhali's Sonapur area. Mainul kidnapped Md Sameer, 8, one of his former students, in Dhaka, ASM Shakhawat Hossain, senior assistant director of Rab-3, told The Daily Star.

Based on information, a team of Rab-3 rescued the 8-year-old from captivity around 4:00pm on Friday, said the Rab official.

According to Rab, Mainul came to Dhaka on Thursday afternoon and abducted Sameer from a field near the boy's house in Modhubagh area.

Before leaving the spot, Mainul left a ransom note demanding Tk 50,000 inside the microbus that the boy's father Kawsar Ahmed drives. The note also contained two cell phone numbers, said Rabiul Islam, senior assistant superintendent of Rab-3.

The arrestee also demanded ransom from Sameer's father over SMS and phone call.

According to the senior assistant superintendent of Rab-3, Mainul said he would hand Sameer over to the family only after his mother brings the money alone. Mainul kept Sameer at his friend's home in Dhaka.

Once the boy's father sought help from Rab, the elite force members started investigation and lured the kidnapper by assuring him of the ransom through Kawsar. Mainul agreed to meet at Airport Railway Station and that's where Rab arrested him, said Rabiul.

Mainul used to study at a madrasa in the capital's Mohammadpur area. During that period he taught Sameer.

Rab later handed Mainul over to Hatirjheel Police Station and a case was also filed regarding the incident, Rabiul added.