(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-08 19:48

DHAKA -- A Bangladeshi NGO official Noor Islam, abducted from his office in Afghanistan province of Lugar, was released unhurt late Friday night, nearly three months after his abduction, private news agency UNB reported Saturday.

M Anwarul Islam, Director of Public Affairs and Communications of the leading NGO BRAC, was quoted as saying that Noor Islam is now undergoing medical checkup at a government establishment in Lugar.

Afghan security officials secured his release after frantic efforts for the last few months. Noor is likely to be handed over to BRAC authorities in Kabul Sunday after completion of the checkup.

Anwarul said that arrangements are being made for Noor Islam's return to Bangladesh and meeting his family.

Noor is one of more than 200 Bangladeshi staff engaged in micro- financing operations, women empowerment, education and health activities in war-ravaged Afghanistan since 2002.

BRAC founder chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed thanked both the governments of Bangladesh and Afghanistan for extending help in securing release of Noor Islam.

Bangladeshi caretaker government Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed has deeply appreciated Afghan President Hamid Karzai for securing the release of abducted BRAC employee Noor Islam in Afghanistan.

Bangladeshi Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury conveyed the "deep appreciation" to Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Spanta as they are in New Delhi of Indian capital to attend the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers' Meeting.