On a tip-off, a large contingent of police and Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) launched the predawn raid on the hideout of kidnappers in the deep forest of the hills district but returned empty-handed, demon strating yet another futile exercise since the rescue operation began 38 days back.

"We really don't have any idea where Jamal could be kept hostage. We are just carrying out the search on the information from various sources," said a frustrated senior police official at Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) yesterday, seeking anonymity.

The police official's admission is however contrary to the claim of Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, who, on August 24, told journalists that the government knew the whereabouts of Jamal and that he would be rescued 'soon' by the joint forces.

The abduction case was meanwhile handed over to the Detective Branch of the CMP on Saturday to start the investigation afresh. Mesbauddin was the Investigation Officer of the case and Officer-in-charge of Chandgao Police Station before his transfer from the CMP during a recent reshuffle in the police administration to bolster the rescue efforts.

A team of secret agencies from Dhaka is now in Chittagong, trying to trace Jamal if he is still alive and establish a connection with the kidnappers.

Sources said the government is even willing to arrange payments for the abductors against Jamal's release.