‘They only demanded money’

Journalist Utpal Das, who was abducted from Dhanmondi in Dhaka two months ago, returned home yesterday morning. Police said Utpal’s abductors had left him at a CNG station at Bhulta in Narayanganj on Tuesday night. A team from the Bhulta police outpost brought him in after people at the filling station reported the incident.

Utpal, a senior reporter who covers Awami League news for purboposhchimbd.news, had gone missing on October 10. He had last spoken to his mother that day and his phone was found switched off since then. The journalist told police that he did not know the identity of his abductors.

Recounting his ordeal, Utpal said: “I was abducted from in front of Star Kabab at Dhanmondi around noon. I could not see the faces of my abductors.”

Utpal said he was kept confined in a room with a tin roof. “There was no chair or bed in the room and I used to lie on the floor. There was an attached bathroom where I could take baths. The abductors served me food on a plate pushed in from the bottom of the door to the room,” he added.

“My mobile phone was snatched from me. The abductors didn’t talk too much with me. Although they had demanded money, they never assaulted me,” he said.

Utpal said the abductors decided to release him when they sensed that law enforcers could identify his specific location. “They had blindfolded me when they took me out of the room. After driving around for three to four hours, they left me at a CNG station in Narayanganj,” he added.

Asked about any ransom call, the journalist’s family

said someone had used Utpal’s number and demanded

money from them. “But we didn’t know who called us for money and the whereabouts of my son,” Utpal’s father Cittaranjan Das said.

“Then around a month ago, someone named Ripon Talukdar had called us to inform that Utpal was in a hospital and a lot of money was needed for his treatment. Later, we came to know that it was fake news about Utpal,” he added.

Cittaranjan said he was happy and relieved to get his son back. “We seek cooperation of journalists and all others to demand a fair investigation into the incident,” he added.

Echoing the sentiment, Utpal’s mother Bimala Rani said: “I had cried so much for my son and I am very happy that he is back home at last. Now, I just want to forget about the whole nightmare.”

Peer Habibur Rahman, the chief editor of the portal for which the victim worked, said the news of Utpal’s return had brought a big relief.

Utpal said he will return to work after overcoming the trauma.

Investigators said Utpal’s family and the portal’s editor, Khugesta Nur E Naharin, had lodged two general diaries at Motijheel police station after his abduction. “Police will provide legal protection to his family,” an officer said.

The incident had sparked a huge outcry among journalists, rights activists and social media users.

They only demanded money

Journalist Utpal Das, who was abducted from Dhanmondi in Dhaka two months ago, returned home yesterday morning. Police said Utpals abductors had left him at a CNG station at Bhulta in Narayanganj on Tuesday night. A team from the Bhulta police outpost brought him in after people at the filling station reported the incident. Utpal, a senior reporter who covers Awami League news for purboposhchimbd.news, had gone missing on October 10. He had last spoken to his mother that day and his phone was found switched off since then. The journalist told police that he did not know the identity of his abductors. Recounting his ordeal, Utpal said: I was abducted from in front of Star Kabab at Dhanmondi around noon. I could not see the faces of my abductors. Utpal said he was kept confined in a room with a tin roof. There was no chair or bed in the room and I used to lie on the floor. There was an attached bathroom where I could take baths. The abductors served me food on a plate pushed in from the bottom of the door to the room, he added. My mobile phone was snatched from me. The abductors didnt talk too much with me. Although they had demanded money, they never assaulted me, he said. Utpal said the abductors decided to release him when they sensed that law enforcers could identify his specific location. They had blindfolded me when they took me out of the room. After driving around for three to four hours, they left me at a CNG station in Narayanganj, he added. Asked about any ransom call, the journalists family said someone had used Utpals number and demanded money from them. But we didnt know who called us for money and the whereabouts of my son, Utpals father Cittaranjan Das said. Then around a month ago, someone named Ripon Talukdar had called us to inform that Utpal was in a hospital and a lot of money was needed for his treatment. Later, we came to know that it was fake news about Utpal, he added. Cittaranjan said he was happy and relieved to get his son back. We seek cooperation of journalists and all others to demand a fair investigation into the incident, he added. Echoing the sentiment, Utpals mother Bimala Rani said: I had cried so much for my son and I am very happy that he is back home at last. Now, I just want to forget about the whole nightmare. Peer Habibur Rahman, the chief editor of the portal for which the victim worked, said the news of Utpals return had brought a big relief. Utpal said he will return to work after overcoming the trauma. Investigators said Utpals family and the portals editor, Khugesta Nur E Naharin, had lodged two general diaries at Motijheel police station after his abduction. Police will provide legal protection to his family, an officer said. The incident had sparked a huge outcry among journalists, rights activists and social media users.