The tourist police arrested 18 people on the charges of kidnapping, robbery, drug dealing and anti-social activities by targeting tourists from the residential cottage zone area of the hotel-motel zone, known as the 'den of criminals' in Cox's Bazar town.
Police said the arrested are members of an organized crime gang. They used to trick the women into a trap and put them in these residential cottages of the tourists and looted everything with them.
Additional DIG Apple Mahmood disclosed this information at a press conference organized in the office of Tourist Police Cox's Bazar Additional DIG.
The arrested are- Prakash Baidya (19), son of Ganesh Baidya of Kalbila area of Ujirpur upazila of Barisal district, Md. Siraj Howladar of Shikarpur area of the same Upazila, the son of Rakib (20) and Abdul Karim Bepari. Sabbir (19), Sunny Alam (22), son of Yunusch Mia of Baghuigram area of Chauddagram upazila of Comilla district, Md. of the same area. Zainal's son Tauhidul Islam (21) and Harunur Rashid's son Yanur Rashid (19), son of Abul Bashar of Raipur area of Fatikchari upazila of Chittagong district. Sakhawat Hossain (33), son of Abdul Mannan of Amirkhil area of Satkania upazila, Mizanur Rahman (20), Md. of Dohazari Adarshagram area of Chandnaish upazila. Riaz (22) and the son of Abdul Mahabub of the same area. Iqbal (22), son of Abdul Hakim of Ali member neighborhood of Alikdam upazila of Bandarban district. Mizbah (25).
On the other hand, the detained women are – Kulsuma Begum (25), daughter of Md Yusuf of Kathghar area of Patenga police station of Chittagong city, Mukta Akhter (23) daughter of Moktar Matbar of Atipara of Ashulia police station of Dhaka city, Taiba Akhter (19), daughter of Fazal Mia of Islamabad area of Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar district, Aklima Akhter (20), daughter Md of Srivardi police station of Sherpur district. Akbar Ali's daughter Aklima Akhtar (20), Imu Begum (24) daughter of Pethan Ali alias Ferainnya of Lohagara area of Naikxyongchari upazila of Bandarban district, Lamia Begum (20), daughter of Badsha Howladar of Kaluabazar area of Rajapur upazila of Jhalkathi district and Riya Moni (22), daughter of Anwar Hossain of Katikamari area of Muksedpur upazila of Gopalganj district.
In the press conference, Apple Mahmud said that the tourist police received some complaints from some tourists who came to Cox's Bazar and stayed in the cottage zone area of the city for the past few days. In view of this, the police on Monday night raided the cottages and arrested 18 members of the organized criminal gang, including 7 women, from 5 cottages.
Additional Deputy Inspector General said, “The arrested are members of organized criminal gangs. Members of this gang are involved in various crimes including prostitution, drug dealing, robbery, kidnapping and secretly filming tourists in residential cottage zones. "
There are more than two hundred residential cottages in the tourist area of Cox's Bazar city and 6 cottages without signboards have serious allegations of committing various crimes against them. Apple Mahmud said, "The police have already been able to identify the members of the active organized criminal gang centered in the residential cottage zone. All criminals will be brought under the law by carrying out phased raids. "
“These criminals bring tourists to cottages for overnight stays through brokers. Later, these tourists were trapped with women. After that, the tourists were secretly videotaped and looted. Along with prostitution, drug trade is also going on in these cottages. "
"There are complaints of tourists being held captive in the secret rooms of these residential cottages and ransom is being collected," said the official of the tourist police.
Apple Mahmud said that 6 illegally managed cottages have been raided and sealed because of allegations of serious crimes.
He said that a case has been registered against the detainees at Cox's Bazar Sadar Model Police Station.
