Missing madrasa student rescued after 6 days in Bangshal

Police have rescued an 11-year-old student who went missing from a madrasa in in Dhaka’s Bangshal area six days ago.

Mostak Sarkar, deputy commissioner of the Lalbagh Division, told bdnews24.com that the child was handed over to his parents after being rescued.

He said police found no evidence that the child had been abducted.

The boy went missing on Sept 21 after leaving the madrasa at Sat Rowza Khaje Nehal Jame Mosque in Bangshal following Asr prayers, Mostak said.

The boy’s father filed a general diary with Bangshal Police the following day.

Sub-Inspector Rashedul Islam, the investigating officer, began searching for the child after collecting CCTV footage from the madrasa and questioning students.

During the investigation, as the child’s photograph was circulated on social media, unidentified people called his father’s IMO number and claimed that the child had been kidnapped, demanding a ransom of Tk 50,000.

After negotiating with the callers, the child’s father sent Tk 10,000 to a bKash number, Mostak said. The callers later demanded more money.

By examining information linked to the bKash number, police learned that it was registered in the Sreepur area of Gazipur. Police then collected information about the number with the assistance of Sreepur Police.

As the investigation progressed, police learnt that the child may have left the madrasa out of fear after being accused of taking a mobile phone and money from there.

The mobile phone was later found under the child’s pillow.

According to the police investigation, after leaving the madrasa, the child travelled to Chandpur from Sadarghat Launch Terminal. There, he became acquainted with an auto mechanic from the Chunkutia area of South Keraniganj. The child later returned to Dhaka with the man and was staying at his garage.

Mostak said, “When the man’s statements raised suspicion, contact was made with one of the child’s relatives. Police later went to the location on Sept 27 and rescued the child.”

The Lalbagh Division police officer said the child was handed over to his parents after being rescued.

Meanwhile, a news report had alleged that the child could not be rescued even after the ransom was paid and that police had been uncooperative in the case.

Police have denied the allegations, saying they were incorrect.

“The child was rescued through the coordinated efforts of Bangshal and Sreepur police stations,” Mostak said.

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