A van driver and runner of Sundarban Courier Service have been kidnapped allegedly by some armed indigenous youths from Ramgarh upazila in Khagrachari on Saturday night.

The kidnapped staffers of the courier service are Md Abbas, driver of the van from Bhola, and runner Md Al Amin from Noakhali.

The kidnappers however released the assistant of the driver Solayman during the incident.

Also read: 4 kidnapped fishermen rescued in Ctg, 5 robbers held

Md Salauddin, manager of Khagrachari office of Sundarban Courier Service, said: “The kidnappers at first demanded Tk 3 lakh calling from the driver’s personal number, later they raised it to Tk 5 lakh.”

The covered van was heading for Dhaka with postal cargo from Khagrachari sadar upazila when it was stopped by some seven or eight armed indigenous youths on motorcycles near Datarampara point on Ramgarh-Jaliyapara road, Solayman told UNB.

“They took the van a bit inside the Datarampara road, and took Abbas and Al Amin on their motorcycles on gunpoint, as we failed to show any receipt of having paid extortion fee,” he said.

A source wishing anonymity said, “The courier office authority held a meeting with the leaders of the kidnapping gang but as they could not agree on the amount of ransom the staff were not released. Also the kidnappers stopped contacting from Sunday noon.”

Mohammad Shamsujjaman, Officer-in-Charge of Ramgarh police station, said the van was recovered from the spot and taken under custody.

Also read: 2 held for raping minor girl after kidnap in Barishal

“Law enforcing forces are conducting drives to rescue the kidnaped staffers but no complaint has been lodged yet with police yet in this regard,” said the OC.