According to Meherpur police, a gang of criminals went to the house of Abdul Mannan at Shyampur village under Sadar upazila in the district at about 3:30am.

They called Mannan's son Hamidul, 40, out of the house and kidnapped him at gunpoint. Later, the gang demanded Tk 2 lakh from Hamidul's family for his release.

Hamidul owns two storehouses at the local market. Ali Kadam, a relative of the abducted businessman, told newsmen that a gang demanded Tk 50, 000 in toll from Hamidul two months ago. As Hamidul refused to comply with the demand, the gang threatened him with dire consequence, Ali added.

The family of the victim informed the police, but did not file any case with the police station concerned as of 4:30pm yesterday.

In Kushtia, a cattle trader was stabbed to death by a gang of criminals in Daulatpur upazila on Thursday night.

The victim, Asadul Haq, 30, son of Barkat Mollah of Gacherdia village in the upazila, came under attack while he was returning home at Gacherdia from local Baragandia Bazar at about 8:30pm.

Asadul was taken to Kushtia General Hospital where he died at about 11:30pm.

Police arrested two persons--Mosarraf Hossain and Ala Mollah-- for their alleged involvement in the killing the same night.