Two Sundarbans Courier staff abducted: Tk 5 lakh ransom demanded

Staff Correspondent, Khagrachhari

A covered van driver and a runner of Sundarban Courier Service were abducted at Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachhari on Saturday evening.

The driver was identified as Md Abbas, hailing from Yarapur in Noakhali’s Begumganj and the runner as Md Al Amin, from Uttar Chashara in Bhola’s Tozumiddin.

The abductors, who claimed to be members of the United People’s Democratic Front or UPDF (Prasit Bikash Khisha group), have demanded a ransom of Tk 5 lakh.

According to local police and sources, a covered van of Sundarban Courier Service was going to Ramgarh from Khagrachhari district town on Saturday night.

As the van was crossing the Joutha Khamar area of the Ramgar-Jaliyapara road, some eight to 10 armed miscreants came out of nowhere in motorcycles, stopped the van and abducted the driver and the runner.

The van helper was also there during the abduction, but he was not abducted.

Named as Md Solaiman, the helper said, “The abductors were indigenous. They all had heavy weapons on them. They took away the driver and the runner in a matter of minutes.”

Khagrachhari Sundarban Courier Services Manager Md Salauddin said, “The abductors phoned me using the driver’s phone to demand a ransom of Tk 300,000.

“Immediately I informed the head office in Dhaka about this, but they expressed the inability. And when I informed the abductors about this, they raised their ransom demand to Tk 500,000.”

Mr Salauddin also said that the abductors introduced themselves as members of the UPDF (Prasit group).

Ramgarh Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shamsuzzaman said, “On information, we have recovered the covered van and brought it to the police station.

“And a joint operation by police and BGB is on to rescue the abducted. However, none has yet lodged any complaint with the police station about this abduction.”