Two Mobile Tower Technicians Abducted in Khagrachari

Local Correspondent | April 19, 2025

Two technicians working for a mobile phone operator were abducted at gunpoint in Mayurkhil, Manikchari, Khagrachari, on Saturday afternoon.

The victims, identified as Md. Ismail Hossain (35) and Abre Marma (25), were reportedly repairing a mobile tower near the Khagrachari-Chittagong regional road when armed individuals forced them onto motorcycles and took them to an unknown location. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

Local sources suggest that recent tensions in the region may have played a role in this incident.

Manikchari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Mahmudul Hasan Rubel confirmed hearing about the incident but stated that no official complaint or missing persons report had been filed yet.

This abduction follows several recent incidents in the region. On April 16, five students from Chittagong University were abducted in Giriful, Khagrachari, after the Bizu festival. Earlier, on January 22, miscreants vandalized and set fire to eight mobile network towers in Dighinala, Manikchari, and Matiranga.

In light of increasing crime, abductions, and security threats, the US Embassy in Dhaka recently issued a travel advisory, urging its citizens to avoid visiting the Chittagong Hill Tracts, including Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban.

The advisory categorized Bangladesh as Level 3 and the Chittagong Hill Tracts as Level 4 due to risks of ethnic violence, terrorism, and kidnapping. Diplomats and security analysts believe this warning could adversely affect Bangladesh’s international relations and image.

The US Embassy also emphasized avoiding gatherings, as protests or peaceful assemblies may turn violent without warning, citing instability during the interim government period.