Abul Kashem Faruk, 44, who was captured by the Islamic Army of Iraq (IAI) on October 28, is now under the Iraqi Interior Ministry.

"We have information that he has been released. But we are yet to get confirmation," Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, foreign secretary, told The Daily Star last night.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Kuwait Nazrul Islam Khan told The Daily Star that he also received such an information, but he is yet to confirm the news.

A Sri Lankan truck driver, who was kidnapped along with Faruk, has also been released. Sri Lankan ambassador to Kuwait who is already in Iraq has been asked by the government to receive Faruk on behalf of Bangladesh.

The Iraqi militants was abducted Faruk 60km away from Baghdad while transporting supplies to a US military base. Al-Jazeera was the first to broadcast a video message picturing him and the Sri Lankan driver. He was driving the truck for a private Kuwaiti company, Al-Jashem.

Bangladesh engaged the International Organisation for Migration and the Red Crescent Society in the rescue effort of Faruk.