Afghans free 2 Bangladeshis

Kidnappers have released two of seven Bangladeshi hostages in Afghanistan, while police are still looking for the others. UPDATES

Dhaka, Dec 19 (bdnews24.com)—Kidnappers have released two of seven Bangladeshi hostages in Afghanistan, while police are still looking for the others.

Their colleague, Samwhan Corporation employee Masud Alam Ratan, told bdnews24.com on mobile phone on Sunday night that the two were freed in the morning when they had fallen ill.

The foreign ministry has, however, confirmed the release of only one.

The expatriate workers were kidnapped around 8pm on Friday beside Mazar-i-Sharif where 17 Bangladeshis worked. During the attack, an asphalt plant operator, Kazi Altaf Hossain, was killed.

Nine Bangladeshi construction workers fled that attack and were safe, according to the foreign ministry.

The five still missing are Imam Uddin, Mahbub Ali, Aminul Islam, 'Lablu' and Mojibur Rahman, according to Masud.

All of them have been working for Korean company Samwhan Corporation since 2004-05.

The branch office of Samwhan has requested the Afghan government to take initiatives to release all the hostages, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

Initiatives have also been taken to bring the remains of the deceased back to Bangladesh.

"The government is closely monitoring developments," the release added.

Masud Alam told bdnews24.com the 30-35 workers, including the Bangladeshis, told the corporation they were not willing to work anymore under the changed circumstances.

ALTAF'S LIFE

Altaf Hossain, 35, was from Khanpura Madhhapara village of Bera Upazila of Pabna. According to Masud, he last visited his home last year.

He married Beauty Akhter two years ago. Her cousin's husband Rezaul Karim told bdnews24.com he returned to work just 10 days into the marriage and visited his wife a year later for two months.

"The man has a 45-day old daughter who he never met."

Altaf's nephew Fajlu Kazi also works with the corporation.

Fajlu told Rezaul the workers were hiding under their beds during the attack.

"They dragged everyone out and hit Altaf in the head with the butt of a rifle. They shot at him five or six times at close range after he had fallen to the ground."

Altaf's remains are now in Kabul, Masud said.

His funeral prayers were held in the morning at Mazar-i-Sharif.

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