Editorial
Bangladeshi kidnapped in Iraq
Let us pray for his safe return
We are dismayed and extremely concerned at the kidnapping of a Bangladeshi national, Abul Kashem Faruk in Iraq by a group calling itself Islamic Army of Iraq. Our deepest sympathies are with his family which is going through a traumatic ordeal that none of us would ever want to experience. We share their feelings of uncertainty and helplessness. We find no words strong enough to condemn abduction of innocent, unarmed people who have had nothing to do with the war on Iraq. Let us tell the hostage-takers that Bangladesh's position on the invasion of Iraq has always been clear. Bangladesh has continuously maintained that invading the country without a UN mandate was not the right thing to do. The government had repeatedly condemned the attacks in which innocent Iraqis were killed. Even on the question of sending troops to Iraq, the government has categorically stated that troops would only be sent under the banner of UN peace keeping forces. We are, therefore, simply flabbergasted at the hostage-taking of a Bangladeshi citizen and not setting him free as yet. In fact all the sympathies and support that they had had, could be evaporating into thin air for their continuous act of terror like kidnapping and beheading innocent people. If our message ever reaches you -- please, for God's sake, shun this path of terrorism and set the hostages free. Let the families and friends of, not just Abul Kashem Faruk, but all other hostages be relieved of the emotional turmoil they so agonisingly find themselves in. We appreciate the prompt action taken and attention given to the case by the Bangladesh authorities -- foreign office in Dhaka and our missions in the Middle East. Their immediate response has assured both us and the tormented family of Faruk. Let's hope and pray that the government's efforts to secure the safe release of Faruk and his return to his wife and child meet with success.
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