Dhaka, Oct 5 (IANS): Two tourists and two of their local guides were abducted in Bangladesh's Bandarban district by armed men, the media reported on Monday.

Bandarban’s Ruma police station chief Shariful Islam told bdnews24 that a combined team of police and the army has launched an operation to trace them.

The missing tourists have been identified as ‘Munna’, 34 and ‘Zubayer’ 26, who came from Dhaka.

Locals said the tourists and their guides were abducted by armed men around 3.00 p.m. on Saturday from Bilachhari’s Natunpukur area.

“A group of 10-12 armed men nabbed six persons, including those four. The men were wearing uniforms similar to the army and speaking Myanmar language,” an official said.

Two other men -- Avirang and Manindra -- were also abducted but they were later freed.

“The abductors told them to lead to the border with India. Upon reaching the border, they let Avirang and Manindra go. After returning, Avirang and Manindra said the four were still detained by the armed men,” the official added.

The motive behind the abduction remained unclear.