Dhaka Bureau: 25 years ago when Abul Kashem traveled to Saudi Arabia. Then his daughter Ruma was not born in the world. The remaining eight boys were also children. After long 25 years, Abul Kashem returned to the country last Friday night without a passport after losing his mental balance. He could not tell the address of the house. Abul Kashem was able to speak only about two areas of Chittagong and the names of three boys.
Meanwhile, the airport police handed over Abul Kashem to BRAC’s Migration Welfare Center as the address was not found. After five days of trying to find his family.
BRAC handed over Abul Kashem to his children on Wednesday (January 18).
Elaborating on the occasion of handing over Abul Kashem to his family at the press conference organized at BRAC center in Uttara, Shariful Hasan, Head of BRAC Migration Program, said that Abul Kashem is probably suffering from dementia or amnesia. Although he could name his wife and three sons, he could not remember the address. He said that his son has a curry shop in the Bou Bazar area of the Eidgah field.
He also said that he heard the regional language and understood that his home is in Chittagong region. BRAC distributed hundreds of posters with his picture in Chittagong. Seeing that, Chittagong City Corporation (CHSIC) Ward Councilor No. 25 Abdus Sabur Liton contacted us. With his help, Abul Kashem’s son, vegetable trader Noor Hasan was found. Later Abul Kashem’s other children and his wife were found.
Abul Kashem’s eldest son Noor Hasan said in a tearful voice after getting his father back, gratitude to everyone including BRAC. We had no contact with father for a long time. I did not know where he is in Saudi. I didn’t even know the country he came from.
Abul Kashem’s wife and children came to Dhaka from Chittagong to take their father on Wednesday morning. His daughter Parveen Akhter said, father went to Saudi Arabia 25 years ago. Then my younger sister Ruma was pregnant. We have very few memories with father. The feeling of having a father back is hard to express in words.
After the handover ceremony, his children left for Chittagram with Abul Kashem in the afternoon. At this time, Airport Armed Police Battalion Additional Police Superintendent Ziaul Haque, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Security Manager Squadron Leader Md. Russell Talukder and others were present.
