Businessman abducted in Narayanganj

Armed assailants kidnapped AB Siddique, husband of prominent environmental lawyer Rizwana Hasan, from Narayanganj in broad daylight on Wednesday.

Siddique, 47, worked as executive director of garment factory Hamid Fashions in Fatulla, owned by State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu.

He was headed for Dhaka from the factory in Fatulla, when assailants from a blue microbus attacked him and his car’s driver at Bhuigarh around 3pm, police said.

Narayanganj Superintendant of Police (SP) Syed Nurul Islam said they were trying to find him.

Vehicles are being searched at the several check posts set up on the Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet highways and various roads of Narayanganj, he said.

A 12-strong committee has also been formed to investigate Siddique’s abduction.

Rizwana Hasan, Executive Director of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), believes the enemies she made in her profession are responsible for kidnapping her husband.

Police, however, are yet to find out the motive.

Hasan is a prominent activist against damages caused to the environment. She won the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2012.

The son of former UP Chairman Abdul Jalil from Comilla, Siddique was born and raised in Narayanganj.

Before joining Hamid Fashions in February, he served Narayanganj businessman and former FBCCI Vice President Mohammad Ali, who was a Jatiya Party MP in the 1980s.

The abduction

AB Siddique and Ripon Miah, driver of his car, left the factory for Dhaka around 2:30pm Wednesday.

A blue van began following them from Shibu market on the Dhaka-Narayanganj link road, Ripon later told reporters.

“The blue van rammed into our car near Bhuigarh Filling Station. We got down to see if there was any damage. That is when seven to eight well-built men with short hair got out of the vehicle.”

Ripon said they hit him with the butt of a pistol in the head and smeared something strong like pepper over his eyes. The men started hitting Siddique and shoving him towards their van.

Ripon claimed he saw the van going towards the Signboard area via Dhaka-Chittagong highway.

He said Siddique was screaming for help but no one stepped forward.