Two NGO workers were abducted, tortured, and blackmailed allegedly by a group of youths of Cumilla's Chandina.
The victims, a male and female employee of an NGO, were allegedly taken to a secluded garden, where the male worker was tied to a tree and beaten, while the female worker was stripped and sexually assaulted.
The perpetrators recorded the assault on a mobile phone and used the footage to extort money from the victims.
The incident occurred on Monday evening in Tular Char area of Chandina municipality.
The victims, who were collecting loan installments for the NGO, were returning home when they were intercepted by a group of youths. The assailants took them to a fish farm near Etbarpur Malibari, where they stole Tk 14,000 collected as loan installments. The victims were then blindfolded and taken to a garden near Tular Char South Para, where they were subjected to further torture.
The male worker, Tarek Rahman, was tied to a tree, beaten, and given electric shocks, while the female worker was stripped and sexually assaulted. The attackers recorded the assault on a mobile phone and threatened to release the footage on social media unless they were paid Tk 200,000. The female worker called her sister and instructed her to send Tk 20,000 via bKash. Despite receiving the money, the assailants continued to assault the victims.
Tarek recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "They tied me to a tree, beat me, and gave me electric shocks. They stripped my female colleague and sexually assaulted her while recording the incident. They demanded Tk 200,000 and threatened to release the video if we didn't pay. After receiving Tk 20,000, they continued to torture us."
The ordeal ended when local villagers noticed the commotion and chased the attackers away. The victims were rescued and taken to Chandina Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Later, they were brought to the police station, where a case was filed against four individuals under charges of abduction and extortion.
Chandina Police Station officer-in-charge Nazmul Huda confirmed the incident and stated that efforts are underway to arrest the accused. The victims are currently receiving medical treatment, and further investigations are ongoing.
