Armed men abduct UP member

A Union Parishad member was kidnapped by some armed men from his house in Chittagong's Lohagara upazila early yesterday.

The victim is Mozaffar Ahmed, 60, member of Potibil ward under Potibil Union Parishad, said Saiful Islam, officer-in-charge of Lohagara Police Station.

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Quoting family members and witnesses, Mohammed Yunus, chairman of Potibil union, told The Daily Star that around 12:15am, some 30 to 40 armed men cordoned off Mozaffar's house in Gowher Chanda village and took him.

The chairman added that Mozaffar's elder son, who is a Saudi expatriate, told him over phone that their family received a phone call in the morning. The caller demanded a ransom of Tk 50 lakh.

After the incident, he informed police and the local administration of the matter, said Yunus.

Confirming the abduction, Abu Aslam, Lohagara upazila nirbahi officer, said he already informed his high-ups, including the deputy commissioner of Chittagong, for taking steps to rescue the UP member.

Aslam, who visited the spot in the evening, said the kidnappers contacted the family with Mozaffar's mobile phone and demanded the ransom.

Hasanuzzaman Molla, additional superintendent of police (Satkania circle), told this correspondent that police were verifying the allegation whether an insurgent group of hill tracts abducted the UP member.

Police began an investigation after informing other agencies of the matter, the police official said.

Despite repeated attempts, this correspondent could not communicate with the victim's family.

UP chairman Yunus said the victim's family members were feeling insecure and they moved to another place considering their security.