Minor allegedly abducted after manpower trader not found at home

An 11-year-old boy was allegedly abducted from his home in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia after his father, a manpower trader named Md. Zafar Ali, could not be found.

The incident took place in the Kalinathpur village under Chhatian union of the upazila, according to local sources on Saturday morning (August 15). The victimized child has been identified as Hussain Ali.

Locals reported that Zafar Ali faces allegations of taking large sums of money from prospective migrants with the promise of sending them to Italy via Libya. Relatives of several victims claim that Zafar Ali and his associates are also involved in abducting and holding their relatives hostage abroad to extort money.

According to local allegations, Zafar Ali constructed a luxury house in Kalinathpur using funds acquired through these means.

Sources stated that associates of Zafar Ali, currently staying in Libya, recently detained a man from the Pultadanga area of Alamdanga upazila in Chuadanga and extorted several hundred thousand takas from his relatives. Following this incident, relatives of the victimized individual went to Zafar Ali's house in Kalinathpur on Saturday morning.

Failing to find Zafar Ali at home, the group reportedly took his 11-year-old son Hussain Ali away with them.

Locals mentioned that people from various parts of the country frequently visit Kalinathpur in search of Zafar Ali, creating a sense of concern and tension in the area.

When contacted regarding the allegation of the child's abduction, Mirpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shahidul Islam stated that no formal complaint has been filed at the station over the incident.

Local residents have demanded a prompt investigation to safely rescue and return the child to his family, alongside a thorough inquiry and legal action regarding the allegations of fraud and extortion linked to foreign employment against Zafar Ali.