Worried families urge prompt steps for rescue

Family members of two Brac officials, who were abducted in war-torn Afghanistan on Thursday, have demanded that the government take effective steps to get then released them.

Off the victims, engineer Md Shawkat Ali, 50, hails from Hangragari village in Faridpur upazila, and accountant Sirajul Islam Sumon, 37, from Dubulia village in Sadar upazila under Pabna district.

Unidentified gunmen abducted them from Kunduz on their way to Baghlan in Afghanistan around 4:00pm on Thursday.

"The have remained traceless for the last two days. No criminal or extremist organisation claims the responsibility of the abduction or demanded ransom," said Md Rani Mirza, media wing officer of Brac.

"Brac officials along with the foreign ministry officials in Afghanistan are trying to rescue the victims. The Bangladesh government is determined to rescue the victims," he added.

This correspondent yesterday visited the houses of the victims and talked to the family members. 

"My husband went to war-torn Afghanistan for earning money so that the family gets solvent. But the news of his abduction has come as a bolt from the blue. Now all we want is his safe return," said Lota Khatun, wife of kidnapped Sirajul Islam.

Shahnaz Parvin, mother of the victim, was seen crying at the house.

"I urge the prime minister to take initiative for safe return of my son," she said.

Md Abu Bakar Siddique, brother in law of engineer Shawkat Ali, said, "We are passing time amid worry, fearing that Shawkat might have been kidnapped by the extremists in Afghanistan. Tension has gripped the family members as he could not be traced two days into the incident."

Shawkat's elder daughter Fatematuz Zohora, also an engineering student, urged the government to take effective steps for return of her father.