Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar issued the following statement on December 31 expressing deep concern over the kidnapping of 19 workers, including 3 forest department employees, in the western hills of Hnila Jadimura in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar,

“I express deep concern over the kidnapping of 19 people, including 3 forest department employees, in the western hills of Hnila Jadimura in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, on December 30. This incident proves that there is no security for the lives and property of the people in the forest areas of Teknaf. In such a situation, it is not possible for the employees and workers of the forest department to work safely. Therefore, the government must take effective and appropriate steps to provide security to the lives and property of the people in that area.

Meanwhile, as the 19 abducted people were not rescued yet, 7 more people were kidnapped on their way from Hoiyang in Teknaf to Shamlapur Bazar. Among them, 1 CNG and 1 auto-rickshaw driver, the rest are passengers.

I strongly urge the concerned authorities to take immediate and effective steps to rescue the 26 abductees, including 19 abducted from the forest of Hnila Jadimura hill in Teknaf and 7 from Hoiyang.”