Armed militant group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) on Thursday (April 4) demanded Tk 15 lakh to release Sonali Bank Bandarban Ruma upazila branch manager Nizam Uddin.
KNF demanded this money from Nizam’s family who was abducted during a daring robbery on Tuedsday.
Nizam’s wife Nazmul Nahar, a teacher of Bandarban Cantonment Public School and College, disclosed the matter to the media in a press conference at the conference room of Bandarban Zilla Parishad this morning.
Meanwhile, Bandarban Hill District Council Chairman and convener of the Peace Establishment Committee Kya Shai Hla denied to hold any discussion with KNF until it releases the abducted bank manager, returns looted 14 arms, money and stop all kinds of criminal activities.
He said a discussion meeting was held at Arun Saraki Town Hall on May 29, 2023 in the presence of leaders of various ethnic groups to bring members of the armed organization Kuki-Chin to normal life.
Following this, a peace establishment committee consisting of 18 members was formed on June 9 of that year. Later, after several rounds of virtual meetings between the peace-making committee and the KNF, an opportunity was created to hold a direct dialogue based on the views of both sides, he said.
The officer said two dialogues were held on 5 November 2023 and on 5 March 2024. However, both dialogues resulted in the signing of two memorandums of understanding on KNF's cessation of armed activities and other issues.
They have violated the agreement by carrying out armed activities at various times. Although the committee repeatedly informed about this matter, they did not pay any heed. On the other hand, various misdemeanors including attacks, extortion, and kidnapping are continuing sporadically on the locals, he added.
On April 2, the separatist group kidnapped the Sonali Bank manager and looted Tk 1.5 crore from Sonali Bank’s Ruma branch.
The incident occurred during Taraweeh prayers. The robbers looted 14 weapons from the Ansar members guarding the bank and abducted the bank manager from the mosque on the bank premises.
They carried out robberies at Sonali Bank and Krishi Bank branches in Thanchi upazila, Bandarban on Wednesday, in a similar incident at a Sonali Bank branch in Ruma upazila.
BDST: 1646 HRS, April 04, 2024
MSK/SMS
