The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The two abducted Bangladeshi officials of Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), released unilaterally by their captors on Sunday night in Afghanistan, will leave Kabul for home by November 4, the BRAC officials said here on Monday.

"If any of the two seats can be arranged in a return flight for the just freed officials, even they may leave Kabul today en route Dubai, the officials said.

Four gunman abducted Mohammad Shahjahan Ali and Akhter Ali, BRAC area managers posted in Ghazni on October 23, when they went to visit Moi Mobarak branch office of BRAC in Ghazni city, southwest of Afghan capital Kabul.

However, the captors who had been unstressed with the two Bangladeshi hostages since the kidnap was taken place left the hostages at the Moi Mobarak branch office, said the officers. BRAC Afghan officials found the hostages in good health.

Their identity is yet to be ascertained. But all of them including a French cut, are bearded, said the BRAC officials in Dhaka.

The hostages had been received related better treatments from their captors with modest foods and did not face any physical tortures, said the sources.

But they were kept in a dark room throughout their captivity.

They were served traditional Afghan or Pashtun bread with raw tea, a menu of common Pashtuns in Afghanistan during the breakfasts.

During the launch they were served with potato and the same type of bread. Twice they were served with traditional Afgahan rice, a kind of "Polau" as supper.

The BRAC officials in Dhaka said they did not ask the freed officials as yet about the language of the Kidneppers, a tool to identify the nationality of any Afghan groups.

"Even we are not so much interested to know. Because good sense had prevailed on them," said the officials.

The two abducted persons arrived at the Kabul headquarters of BRAC at 11.00 this morning by road. The two released staff members have since been in contact with their families In Bangladesh, said a BRAC press release.

An official of BRAC told BSS that the captors had set them free after they were confirmed that the hostages were Muslims.

Meanwhile, Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury on Sunday welcomed the release of two abducted Bangladeshi BRAC employees in Afghanistan.

He also conveyed his gratitude to those who had helped in the efforts leading to the release of Md Akhter Ali and Md Shahjahan, a foreign office press release said here.

Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury earlier sent a letter to his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta in this regard and thereafter issued an appeal through media to the alleged abductors for the release of two BRAC employees.

Besides, the Foreign Adviser raised the matter with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon seeking assistance of the world body to help rescue the two Bangladeshis.

The BRAC Chairperson expressed great relief and joy at the release of the two BRAC officials.