Forest officer returns ‘ransom’ money after ‘kidnapping fishermen’

A government forest official, who allegedly collected ransom after kidnapping four fishermen at Pushpokathi area of Satkhira, returned the money today.

The accused is Mohsin Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Pushpokathi Forest Outpost of the Forest Department, reports our correspondent.

On March 3, four fishermen went to Pushpokathi area of Sundarban for fishing with permission from authorities concerned. But some people led by forest officer Mohsin Alam allegedly kidnapped them and demanded Tk 50,000 as ransom to set them free, said Sohrab Sardar, one of the victim fishermen.

After bargaining with the kidnappers, the fishermen paid Tk 28,000 and got released. The kidnappers, however, took away the fishermen’s fishing nets as they failed to pay Tk 22,000 more, Sohrab claimed.

Later, on March 9, the victims filed a written complaint with the district’s Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Rafiq Ahmmad, who directed forest department’s Burigoalini unit Station Officer (SO) KM Kabir Uddin to investigate the allegation.

Hearing the news of the investigation, the accused Mohsin Alam today repaid the ransom money to the fishermen in presence of the investigation officer.

Talking to journalists, Kabir Uddin confirmed the incident and said he would submit an enquiry report immediately.

Rafiq Ahmmad, the district’s ACF, said he would take necessary legal actions after getting the enquiry report.