Fear beseige Pabna families as 8 go missing in 18-day

Eight individuals, including women and children, have gone missing within the past 18 days in Pabna's Santhia upazila, sparking fear and concern among locals. 

Families in the area have been anxious and distressed as their loved ones remain unaccounted for. Theses incidents happened from October 16 to November 3. 

Though, the families of the missing individuals have filed general diaries with Santhia Police Station but there is no effective result from the law enforcers.

The missing include Hamim, 11, and Sohan, 10, from Ghughudaha village, Rafia Khatun, 13, from the same area, Riad, 8, Hasan, 5, and Hosain, 5, from Bhabanipur, Ridi Khatun, 14, from Chondipur village, and Subrata Karmakar, 45, from Rajshahi's Bagha upazila.

Family accounts reveal the circumstances under which the individuals disappeared. Ridi's brother, Sabuj Hossain, mentioned that his sister, who has a speech impairment, left home on October 16 and has not returned since. 

Aysha Khatun, the mother of Riad, Hasan, and Hosain, shared that her children went with their father to a nearby event on October 18 but never returned. 

Similarly, Subrata Karmakar's son, Shuvo Karmakar, reported that his father left his sister's residence in Aftabnagar on October 31 but failed to reach home. Other cases involve Hamim and Sohan, who went to a local madrasa on November 3 and Rafia Khatun, who was last seen attending her school on the same day.

Parents are growing increasingly concerned. Asad Sheikh, the father of Hamim, shared his anguish, stating, "I can't focus on anything; I can't eat or sleep as I keep wondering if my son is safe or not. I just want him back."

Many parents, such as Assistant Professor Aleya Khatun, are now fearful about letting their children go anywhere alone. "With so many recent disappearances, I'm always worried when my children leave the house and I stay anxious until they return," she said.

Santhia Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Saidur Rahman confirmed that general diaries have been filed for the missing individuals. He assured, "We are making every effort to locate them and bring them home safely." 

The recent incidents have left the community tense and worried, with families hoping for swift action to bring their loved ones back.