Lieutenant Colonel (retd) AKM Sufiul Anam was abducted in southern Yemen 18 months ago by al-Qaeda while performing his duty as chief field security coordination officer for the United Nations Security and Safety Department. After 18 months of captivity and uncertainty, he finally returned home on August 9. Even though he is excited to be reunited with his family after a year and a half, the harrowing memories of confinement still haunt him. The retired army officer shares the story of his ordeal in an exclusive tell-all with Dhaka Tribune’s Shamima Rita.
How are you doing now?
I am very well. After a long time, I have a chance to spend time with family members. I never thought I would come back alive. I had lost all hope. I am having the best moments of my life right now.
Were you subjected to any threats prior to the kidnapping?
No, there were no such indications. As the chief field security coordination officer at the UN, I was responsible for overseeing security matters. While no UN official had experienced something of this nature, an incident did occur involving the abduction of a Saudi Arabian citizen by al-Qaeda. Nonetheless, he was eventually released.
What prompted your visit to Yemen?
Having joined the UN in 2018, my role involved conducting security assessments within UN-designated areas. Essentially, I oversaw the security arrangements for UN personnel prior to their site visits and provided recommendations on enhancing security when necessary.
In line with this duty, a team of six members, including myself, embarked on a mission to three districts of Yemen on February 9, 2022. Given the significant humanitarian crisis resulting from the war situation in Yemen the previous year, UN agencies were actively engaged in the region to mitigate potential disaster.
How did it all go down on that day?
On Friday, February 11, 2022, we successfully completed our security assessment and met with government officials. They informed us that the area was safe to operate in. We were returning with assurances of all-out cooperation and security from the Yemen government. It was half past noon when we stopped at a filling station for gas and set off again.
Half an hour later, we stopped the car at a makeshift check post. At the beginning of our convoy was an undisclosed vehicle carrying 7-8 Yemeni security forces. Basically, in this kind of work, the local government provides a force to ensure our safety and we are allowed to visit only after getting assurances of security. Historically, these areas had an al-Qaeda presence at one time but not in the last 10-12 years. Even the Yemeni government has no record of a terrorist presence. We went there on such assurances.
There were 10-12 armed men standing a little ahead of that check post. We had four cars. I was sitting in car number three. There was another car behind me. At that time, I saw people in the first two cars talking to my team members. However, within moments, a sense of agitation became palpable. Soon after, several armed individuals approached our vehicle, instructing my fellow team members, including our driver, to disembark. They were all forced to stand on the side of the road. At that time, a gunman asked me to get down from the car. But I refused because there wasn’t any protocol to get out of the car in this kind of situation. However, the gunman started threatening that he would throw a grenade at me if I didn’t get down from the car. So, I stepped out of the vehicle.
Subsequently, they confiscated all my belongings, including devices and money. They forced me into a new car while the other members of my team were ushered into a separate one. After 8 to 10 minutes, I was blindfolded and taken to an unknown location. I didn't know where they took us after that. After that, I stayed in different places for 18 long months. They were divided into two groups, one group consisting of three people and the other group consisting of two people.
Can you share your experiences in these 18 months?
I did not think that I would ever be able to return alive, that I would see my wife and children again. They could have killed us and dumped our bodies somewhere.
Although they didn't torture us physically, we were very upset mentally. We were kept in a place that was completely surrounded by rocks and stones. The room had a door but no window. I do not know when it was day or night during these 18 months. In some places there were only small holes for oxygen supply.
The stone-enclosed place was full of snakes, big spiders, scorpions and various types of poisonous insects. We killed four snakes and six scorpions. Because our bed was on the floor they provided mattresses and a piece of hard rock to rest the head on.
It was a very difficult 18 months. They did not keep us in one place for long. Some days we traveled for up to 17 hours. Then our eyes were tied with black cloth. So, I had no idea where I was going. I could only hear gunshots and explosions. I did not understand whether it was an attack on us or not. I was afraid that we would be the target. I was constantly afraid.
But their behavior was very good. They always promised to free us. Besides, the food was also good. As long as they had funds, they fed us well. Sometimes beef, sometimes mutton was served with rice or their traditional bread. But most of the time they gave food like pea soup.
Were you able to contact your family?
Three days following the abduction, news of our imminent release reached us. However, it fell off at the last moment. It was during Ramadan. This happened many times. Initially, I held on to optimism. Yet, as multiple attempts at our release yielded no results, my hope began to wane. By April 2022, my condition deteriorated significantly. It was during this time that I received a letter from my son, Shakib. The letter reassured me: "Dad, don't worry, we're all fine. Be confident." After receiving the letter, I got a lot of confidence from that. It was a very memorable event for me.
Do you know why they abducted you?
Regrettably, I have no idea. At the outset, I wasn't even aware of their affiliation with the international terrorist organization al-Qaeda. Our captors remained tight-lipped, revealing nothing about their intentions. A few days following the abduction, they presented me with a script that I recited verbatim in a video message.
Upon my return home, I discovered that they had demanded $3 million as ransom. Astonishingly, they ultimately released us after 18 months without any monetary exchange. I think that the core objectives behind this kidnapping were political in nature, driven by greed and to exert influence. However, they live adhering to the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). So why did they create this situation? This surprised me.
When asked about the reasons for our abduction, they asserted their engagement in jihad. But we are living in 2023. So how can five people be detained at this time. Then we were in captivity for 18 months. How is that possible?
Why did al-Qaeda members agree to release you after 18 months?
While handing us over, they said their demands were being met. But they did not say anything about the nature of their demands. After returning home I heard that they had released us without the $3 million ransom.
You held a significant position within the UN. So, why did it take so long to rescue you?
In my assessment, there seemed to be issues within the communication network with the intelligence agency. Furthermore, a multitude of impediments hindered our liberation. Yemen's intricate political landscape played a role, further complicated by the expanding influence of powerful Middle Eastern nations over the region. These intricate dynamics likely extended the timeline of our rescue efforts.
I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the government, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and all my batchmates, including those in the intelligence agency and the armed forces. Their unwavering support for both me and my family was instrumental in securing my release. Despite my initial apprehensions of being forgotten, my return home revealed the resolute efforts that were tirelessly underway to secure my freedom.
How are your days going after becoming a free man again?
In truth, I and four Yemeni companions were in the process of being handed over to another group and we still couldn’t believe that we were being released. The surreal feeling of being released was difficult to fathom, especially considering the recurrent nature of such situations. Not that I was very excited after the release, but there was a deep sense of relief upon reuniting with my family upon returning to my homeland. At present, each day unfolds with a sense of excellence and gratitude.
When do you plan to return to work?
I was supposed to retire on December 11 last year. But this abduction incident happened. The UN has now given me time for recovery. I can join any time after that.