31,000 children missing in 7 months, Mahila Parishad expresses concern

Over 31,000 general diary (GD) entries have been filed at police stations across the country, including the capital, regarding children going missing in the first seven months of this year. More than 4,000 children are still untraced. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has expressed deep concern over the situation in a statement issued on Monday.

Citing data from police headquarters and various media reports, the organisation said in the seven months from January to July this year, 15,717 GDs were filed on children aged 0-9 going missing, of whom 2,038 are still missing. During the same period, 15,243 GDs were filed on children aged 10-17 going missing; while 13,273 of them were recovered, 1,970 remain untraced.

The statement noted that children are going missing while playing near their homes, returning from school, falling prey to various temptations, or losing their way while wandering in unfamiliar places. It expressed concern that children missing for long periods may have fallen prey to trafficking rings or criminal networks.

The organisation urged the administration to maintain close surveillance and take necessary measures to find the missing children. It also demanded the identification, prosecution and punishment of criminal gangs involved in child disappearances.