A Bangladeshi UN official, who was abducted by al-Qaeda from southern Yemen, has been released yesterday, around 18 months after his kidnapping, family members said.

 AKM Sufiul Anam, field security coordination officer of United Nations Department of Safety and Security, was kidnapped in February last year.

He retired from the Bangladesh Army as lieutenant colonel in 2005 and had been working with the UN since.

Sakeef, son of Sufiul, told The Daily Star that they were grateful to the prime minister, chief of army staff, and everyone who was involved in the matter in the administration.

 "I talked to my father a few hours ago. He is well," Sakeef said yesterday evening.

Sufiul was among five UN employees who were taken as hostage by al-Qaeda.