March 18, 2016

Two BRAC officials abducted in Afghanistan

BRAC Afghanistan’s staff KM Sirazul Islam (left) and Mohammad Showkat Ali (right)

It is with regret that we announce that Engineer Mohammad Showkat Ali, Chief Engineer, National Solidarities Programme and KM Sirazul Islam, Regional Accountant for the Girls Education Challenge (GEC) project were abducted yesterday from Shenowari of Baghlan e Markazi district in Baghlan province, Afghanistan. The incident happened when they were returning to the BRAC office in Kunduz province from a scheduled field visit.

BRAC is engaging with officials to deal with this crisis. BRAC Afghanistan authorities are in constant communication with law enforcement agencies and the local administration and has dispatched a team to Baghlan to coordinate the rescue efforts.

In immediate response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh and Ministry of Interior in Afghanistan have assured their full cooperation. BRAC officials in Bangladesh have been in communication with the families of Showkat and Siraz, keeping them informed of the latest situation and providing all necessary support.

BRAC has been in operation in Afghanistan since 2002 helping the country to rebuild after the war. It currently runs programmes in health, girls education and is a partner of the Afghan Government in their National Solidarity Programme initiated to rehabilitate 5,000 villages. BRAC is doing everything in our power to ensure a safe and speedy release.