They dared to abduct the college girl in presence of several hundred people and a couple of policemen.

The abduction took place four days ago at a busy public place in the port city of Narayanganj. The victim was left alone by the kidnappers at a suburban area of the town yesterday evening.

For 19-year-old Rima, a de-• gree student of Narayanganj Government Women's College, it was a nightmare in the custody of the kidnappers. She looked battered, sitting at the Narayanganj thana. She was rescued by police last night from a scooter, abandoned at a place on the Dhaka-Narayan-ganj link road. Her father Abdur Rahman and brother Ratan were seen making abortive bids

to comfort a speechless Rima.

Police said they will produce Rima before court today and then hand over her to her parents. But the abduction case filed by Rima's father would take legal course unless it is withdrawn, they said.

At their Baburail residence, the wailing mother and other family members were still awaiting Rima's return. But till late last night, the mother was not given the shocking news of her daughter's state of mind.

Her mother burst into tears while The Daily Star correspondent was talking to her father and sister-in law Khadiza Begum. Khadiza was accompanying Rima in the rickshaw when she was abducted.

While the correspondent was at Rima's house, the kidnappers made at least 20 phone calls threatening the family to withdraw the case They also threatened that Rima would face dire consequences if she gives any adverse statement, the family members said.

"We now suffer from a deep sense of insecurity. We seek protection and Justice", says Rahman. a meat trader. The sobbing mother. Hayatunnessa described how much careful she was while sending their daughter to college. "Never. I allowed her to go to college, or anywhere else alone".

Khadiza. a Masters' student at the Eden Girls’ College in Dhaka, then described the story of kidnapping.

A group of about five young sisters in a white car stopped their rickshaw in front of the Morgan Girls High School adjacent to the town's busiest Bangabandhu Sarak Monday evening. As the youths dragged Rima down from the rickshaw, she caught hold of her bhabi.

"Save me bhabi". she cried out. Her bhabi sister-in-law tried to resist the kidnappers. But the youths punched her down from the rickshaw.

Their cries for help drew some elderly men who made an attempt to save them. But threats of "dire consequence" drove them a wav. Others nearby Just witnessed the kidnapping of a young pretty girl.

"As I managed to stand up", says Khadiza. 1 saw Rima running towards the Morgan School and the kidnappers chasing her."

But the kidnappers dragged Rima to the car and threw her inside. A desperate Khadiza then made her second bld. She pulled one of the youths by his shirt but he punched her and the car drove away leaving her injured on the road.