Five students from the University of Chittagong, who were abducted in Khagrachhari, have been released by their captors today (April 24).
The release was confirmed today afternoon by Nipun Tripura, a member of the Hill Students Council. However, details about the time and place of their release have not been disclosed. The students were freed after being held for nine days.
The abduction took place on April 16, as the students were returning to Chittagong after attending the Biju Festival in Khagrachhari. The students are Rishan Chakma, Dibby Chakma, Maitrimoy Chakma, Longi Mro, and Aldrin Tripura. All are enrolled in the 2023–24 academic year at the University of Chittagong.
The Hill Students Council welcomed the release and expressed gratitude to all involved.
The council, aligned with Santu Larma's JSS, has blamed the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) for the abduction—an accusation the UPDF has denied.
Earlier this week, on Monday (April 21), a joint security force raided a suspected UPDF hideout to rescue the students. During the operation, authorities recovered donation receipts, laptops, mobile phones, military uniforms, and a large cache of training materials.
