"Missing" is a coy word used randomly and recklessly in Bangladesh whenever someone is not found - maybe going away voluntarily or picked by police, RAB or rivals in political feuds. But the word is being used or misused too intensely since the July 1 terror attack on Gulshan's Holey Artisan café killing 22 people including 17 foreigners.
The attackers were mostly from the North South University, a prime private institution in the capital, and other higher education schools - and boys from well-off families. But they were proven to have links with international terror group ISIS. Investigations revealed they were trained abroad, provided guns and stuffed with an "insane" morality sticker that killing people in the name of religion would book them a place in the heaves,
Crime experts and terrorism analysts say those boys were brainwashed. Seven of them were killed in counter attacks by the law enforcers and army.
But mystery behind nine youths going missing over the month, including four reported eloped together from the capital's Banani residential area, intensified as Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said the missing boys are coming back.
His statement at a civil defence meeting surprised many as it sounded like he knows for sure where the missing boys are and when they might return to their families.
Speculations have been rife that the youths might have been lifted by police or Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and kept in their custody. The minister's sniffing comment only reinforced the speculations.
However, different law enforcement agencies including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) have failed to find out whereabouts the missing youths.
Safayet Hossain, 24, Zayen Hossain Khan Pavel, 23, and Sobuj alias Sujon, 25, and Mehedi Hasan, 27 - all residents of Banani - went missing about 15 days ago. They were last seen dining together at a Banani restaurant.
Family members of the youths said they do not know why their children went missing all on a sudden. The guardians or relatives of the missing youths - Zayen's father Ismail Hossain Khan Rasel, Mehedi's uncle Mahbub Alam, Sujan's brother Sumon and Sayeed Anwar's uncle Akram Kabir - told the Daily Observer that they do not think their dear ones in any way might have any link to any militant organisation.
Among the Gulshan café attackers, almost all were part of similarly privileged society and all disappeared willingly. Of the deceased militants, Nibras Islam was a student of Monash University in Malaysia, Rohan Imtiaz was a student of Scholastica School, Meer Saameh Mubasher was an 'O' Level candidate at Sunnydale School, Shafiqul Islam Ujjal graduated from the Bogra Government Azizul Haque College and Khairul Islam Payel was a Madrasha student. Separately, the Solakiya attaker Abir Rahman was a BBA student at North South University. Interestingly, the Gulshan cafe attackers did not go missing at a same time - but at different times.
Security experts said that the attack on the Holey Artisam café had created a specter of fear in the people's minds. So, whenever more youths are reported missing they are immediately thought to be heading to join militancy.
The most devastating step taken by local and international militants outfits is, it is targeting young children and women as fresh recruit.
At least 33 banned militant outfit members have so far been killed in joint operations of the law enforcement agencies since July this year. Later the government claimed all perpetrators of militancy have been caught and the situation is under control.
If the now missing mine youths are indeed involved in militancy, as the police hint, then there is a reason for public concern.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Deputy Commissioner (media) Masudur Rahman said "We came to know about their disappearances after the guardians filed GDs. We are investigating this matter with highest priority. The DB Police also is working on it."
Police said "talking to Imran's family members and local people, we think his family is very orthodox regarding religious matters. He (Imran) maintained very strong religious rules."
