BRAC may rethink Afghanistan plans if abduction is 'political'

FE Team | Published: September 18, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Non-governmental organisation BRAC may rethink its operation strategy in Afghanistan if the killing and abduction of its staff were "politically motivated", a top official said Monday, reports bdnews24.com.
"If the killing and abduction of our staff are politically motivated, we have to rethink the operation in Afghanistan strategically. We are concerned about the incidents of killing and abduction," Mahbub Hossain, BRAC's executive director, told reporters.
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) official Abdul Alim was killed on September 13 and colleague Nurul Islam was abducted in Lagore Province, south of Kabul, on September 15 in Afghanistan.
BRAC has been active in Afghanistan since 2002, aiming to empower the poor with programmes in micro-finance, education, health and agriculture.
"So far we have come to know from the Afghan government that the killing and abduction of BRAC staff are stray incidents. The Afghan police are providing us with support," Hossain said after he had led a BRAC delegation to a meeting with Acting Foreign Secretary Md Touhid Hossain.
BRAC's Deputy Executive Director Aminul Islam and Director of Public Affairs and Communication M Anwarul Haq also attended the meeting.
The BRAC officials asked the secretary to send a letter of appreciation to the Afghan government for its sincere efforts to end the hostage crisis.
The secretary assured the BRAC officials of all help to secure the release of Nurul Islam.
"Earlier, there were campaigns against NGO in Afghanistan, but the local people protected us as we work for their welfare," said Hossain.
Meanwhile, Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury Monday expressed grave concern over the abduction of BRAC employee in Afghanistan and appealed for his immediate release.
"I fervently appeal to the abductors to release him (Nurul Islam) as his mission in Afghanistan is purely humanitarian --he is there only to help his Afghan brethren," Chowdhury told reporters at his office at the ministry of foreign affairs.