Student abducted, killed for ransom

A first year student of Jhenidah Technical School and College was found dead yesterday night, nine days after he was abducted for ransom.
The dead, Hamidur Rahman Shahed, 18, was the son of former municipality secretary Sheikh Abdul Kader in the town.
Family sources said Shahed had been missing since December 13 when he went out to recharge his mobile. Later, the abductors phoned his family members and demanded Tk 30 lakh as ransom.
The body was found around 8:30pm yesterday in an under-construction house at Chaklapara village near the town after children while playing got bad smell and informed local people.
Police came in and recovered the body digging the ground floor's muddy surface.
Victim's elder brother Faruk Hossain Shawon recognised the body.
Talking to The Daily Star, Abdul Kader, father of the victim, said first the abductors demanded Tk 30 lakh; but later they claimed Tk 20 lakh. They told Kader to go to Binodia Park at Jessore with the ransom.
But as he told them that he could at best pay Tk 30,000, the abductors did not phone him again. Kader also informed the police and Rab about the abduction but they could not find Shahed.
Jhenidah Superintendent of Police Rezaul Karim claimed that it was not a matter of abduction. “It might have happened for three reasons -- land conflict, quarrel with his friends or love affair.”
Police have arrested two suspects in this regard. They are Partho and Tarun of the same area, he said.
On December 19, the body of a ten-year-old girl, Shrabanti, was found tied in a sack under the bridge of Jhenidah town. She was also reportedly abducted for ransom.