Two Bangladeshi migrants kidnapped by Islamic State militants in Libya were released on Tuesday evening, 18 days after the abduction.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Libya, Maj Gen Shahidul Haque, said in a statement that Helal Uddin of Jamalpur and Mohammed Anowar Hossain of Noakhali were taken to a hospital in the Libyan city of Sirte for medical check-up after their release.
“The physical condition of both men is reportedly normal. On Wednesday, they are expected to be brought to the Tripoli office of the company that employed them,” the statement read.
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Helal and Anowar, who work at the Australian oil company VAOS, could be released because of the prompt initiatives and constant efforts of the ministry as well as the Bangladesh embassy in Libya.
The statement came hours after Helal made a surprise call to his family in Jamalpur from captivity around 10:30am on Tuesday. This was his first communication with his family members since his abduction.
Helal’s wife Aleya said she talked to her husband for four minutes, and he told her that he had heard the militants talking about the release of the Bangladeshi migrants.
“The militants let Helal make the call and they may set the two Bangladeshi hostages free within a day or two,” Aleya told the Dhaka Tribune in an ecstatic voice.
Meanwhile, Marufa Khatun, wife of Anowar, said she got a call from her husband at 3am yesterday and he told her that he was fine after his release.
Both the families rejoiced at the news of the release of the two abductees.
Helal and Anowar were among nine foreign nationals who were kidnapped during an attack on the oil field in Sirte, 700 kilometres from Tripoli, on March 6.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry confirmed the abductions of the two men in a press release on March 9.
