Special Correspondent
A 22-year-old college student who converted to Islam and was allegedly abducted amid tensions surrounding her religious conversion has been recovered from an ISKCON ashram in Rangamati district nearly two months after she went missing.

The recovered student, Ayesha Siddika Zara, formerly known as Tanni Dey Ripanna, is a first-year honours student in the Department of Philosophy at Chittagong Hazi Muhammad Mohsin College.

According to police sources, officers from Chandraghona Police Station in Rangamati recovered the young woman from an ISKCON ashram under Chandraghona on Thursday. Following the recovery, she and her mother were taken into police custody for legal procedures. Chandraghona police subsequently informed Eidgaon Police Station, where a related case is under investigation. A police team led by Sub-Inspector Md. Azimul Haque was dispatched to Rangamati to coordinate further action, confirmed Eidgaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge ATM Sifatul Islam.

Ayesha is the daughter of Sanjit Kumar Dey and Tapasi Dey of Jalalabad Union in Cox’s Bazar’s Eidgaon upazila. Her father owns a mobile phone shop in Eidgaon Bazaar. According to family records, their permanent address is in Alikadam upazila of Bandarban district.

Sources familiar with the case said that while studying in Chattogram, Tanni became interested in Islamic teachings and practices through interactions with Muslim classmates. Approximately a year ago, she reportedly embraced Islam without informing her family and adopted the name Ayesha Siddika Zara. She continued her studies in Chattogram and was reportedly assisted by senior student Shahidul Islam, who helped support and guide her after her conversion.

She formally declared her conversion to Islam through an affidavit before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Chattogram on March 1 this year. The affidavit was registered under No. 96/2026.

According to the case documents, tensions escalated after her family became aware of her conversion. On March 28, Ayesha travelled from Chattogram to Eidgaon and stayed with friends for several days. It is alleged that while preparing to return to Chattogram, she was forcibly taken away by family members and relatives who opposed her conversion.

The complaint further states that while being held against her will, Ayesha managed to send messages seeking help, alleging that she had been confined and subjected to pressure and mistreatment because of her religious decision. Communication with her was subsequently lost, prompting efforts to locate her.

Meanwhile, local resident Naim Islam alleged that a religious facility in Bangalhalia under Rajsthali upazila has long been accused of sheltering converts from different parts of the country. He urged authorities to investigate the matter and maintain close monitoring of such institutions.

Police officials have not yet commented on the allegations regarding the facility, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student`s disappearance and recovery remains ongoing.

Authorities are expected to record statements from all parties concerned as part of the continuing inquiry.