An armed gang abducted three persons, including a former union parishad member from Ramu upazila of Cox's Bazaar early today and demanded Tk 5 lakh as ransom.

The abductees are Abu Tayab, 40, former union parishad member of Baishari union of Nykkhongchhari upazila of Bandarban, his relatives Abu Bakkar, 24, a resident of the same area and Shah Alam, 32, of Sathkania upazila of Chittagong, reports our Bandarban correspondent.

A microbus carrying six people including a patient was heading towards Baishari from Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Abdul Majid, officer-in-charge of Ramu Police Station said.

Suddenly, a gang of armed miscreants intercepted the microbus on Eidghar-Baishari road at Painnajiri of the upazila around 3:50am and forcibly picked up three persons, the OC said.

Tayab's wife Ayesha Siddika, who is a member of the union parishad said, "The abductors called me from my husband's number and demanded Tk 5 lakh as ransom."

"The abductors threatened to kill my husband and relatives if I fail to meet their demand," she said.

On information, police started search operation to rescue the trio, the OC added.