Joynal Abedin Khan :
At least 19 children, including four madrasah students, reportedly had gone missing in three upazilas of Habiganj district in recent days.
Of the missing, four were found dead in Bahubal upazila while one each in Sadar and Shayesthaganj upazilas of the district, while the fate of other missing kids are still traceless.
The family members of the victims and experts on child rights alleged that the district is being turned into a ‘risky place for children’ due to lack of social awareness as well as proper security measures by members of the law enforcing agencies.
Meanwhile, a deep concern has taken place among the people across the country, particularly in the district of Habiganj, following the sharp rise of child missing incidents across the country in recent days.
The Superintendent of Police of Habiganj, Shahidul Islam, however, rejecting the allegation told The New Nation on Saturday, “Police will soon form a ‘special team to tackle such incidents’ to ensure the safety for the children.”
Four residential students of Purba Naogaon Haji Suruj Ali Hafizia Madrasah at Naogaon village in sadar upazila reportedly went missing from the madrasah since Friday afternoon.
The missing students are Shohanur, 12, son of Abdul Awal of Sadar upazila, Nayan, 12, son of Abdullah Mia of Nabiganj upazila, Imtiaz, 12, son of Abdul Ahad and Rafid, 13, son of Ahmed Rashid Monur of Bahubal upazila, said our district correspondent quoting police and locals.
The Naogaon Hafizia Madrasa Assistant Teacher Maulana Selim Ahmed said: “The children went to Shayestaganj after Juma prayers and since then they remain missing.
The incident came to the notice of the authorities after the madrasah was opened on Saturday morning.
Madrasa authorities have filed a general diary in this connection after an emergency meeting, he said.
Shayestaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Yasinul Haque said: “I have heard about the matter from the locals and we will take necessary initiative in this regard.”
Missing student Rafid’s father Ahmed Rashid also filed a general diary with Shayestaganj Police Station on Saturday afternoon. Officer-in-Charge of the police station Yasinul Haque said, “We are trying to rescue the boys.”
Earlier on February 12, Jakaria Ahmed Shuvo, 8, Tajel Miah, 10, Monir Miah, 7, and Ismail Hossain, 8, went missing in the district. Later, police recovered the bodies of the children from a ditch at Shundratiki village under Babubol upazila on February 17. On March 3, the body of a missing minor boy was found in hanging with a mango tree in Charder Hayder village in Bahubal upazila. The victim has been identified as Jewel amin, 20, son of Basir Ahmed.
Meanwhile, two children, who went missing from Habiganj Sadar upazila on February 16, still remain traceless.
The victims are Saifur Rahman Ananda, 12, son of Jamir Ali of Nishapat village in Sadar upazila, and Tayen Mia, 13, son of Kashem Mia of Rajnagar village in the upazila.
Also, Tayen Mia, a student of Anwar Madina Madrasa of the village, went missing while he was returning home from the madrasah on February 17, and did not return home.
Earlier, three minors allegedly went on missing from Sarkari Shishu Paribar of Habiganj district on November 7. The missing minors were identified as Delwar Hossain, 8, Mohamad Ali, 10, and Sujon, 11. Sources said, a minor named Sujon disappeared from Sarkari Shishu Paribar of Boro Bohula in the district in October last year, while Mohamad Ali of the same area on October 31 and Delwar hossen on November 2.
Meanwhile, two youths supposed to be sent to Gazipur Juvenile Correction Centre, who were detained on charge of stealing, have reportedly gone missing from the district Jail in November. The missing teenagers are Antor and Nayan.
Dhaka University criminologist Zia Rahman said children are being targeted as they can be victimised easily.
He said that conflicts between individuals and groups as well as overall degradation of social values were causes behind child missing and murder.
Contacted, Nazrul Islam, Deputy Inspector General (Media) of Police Headquarters, said that law enforcers are trying to decrease the crimes across the country.
