Dhaka seeks Red Crescent help to rescue abductees

The Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli yesterday sought assistance from the Red Crescent to expedite efforts to rescue two Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly abducted in Libya by a militant group linked to the ISIS.

“I have met the Red Crescent officials in Tripoli today [Thursday] and sought their assistance to rescue the abductees. They have assured us of providing all possible help,” ASM Ashraful Islam, counsellor (Labour Wing) at the embassy, told The Daily Star over the phone.

An unknown militant group kidnapped two Bangladeshis along with seven other foreigners from al-Ghani oil field, south of Sirte, on March 6.

All the kidnapped migrants worked for the Austrian oil services company VAOS.

Although six days have passed since the incident happened, the embassy remains in the dark about the militant group and the whereabouts of the Bangladeshi workers.

Ashraful Islam said the oil services company too could not confirm the identity of the militant group.

The Bangladesh embassy submitted a note verbale to the Libyan foreign ministry on Wednesday, formally requesting their assistance to rescue the abductees, the counsellor added.