‘I now want body of my son, nothing else’

Mother of abducted Miraj (inset), left, with her daughter in law and two children. Miraj was kidnapped at gunpoint about two months ago. PHOTO: STAR

Noorjahan Begum, dejected elderly mother of 40-year-old Syed Miraj Ali said on Wednesday 54 days into abduction of her son.

Miraj was kidnapped at gun point from his house at Fulbari village in Hazipur union of Sadar upazila by a gang of criminals led by Idu on July 8, alleged family members. They abducted him because he raised voice against illegal trade of fake currency notes, they said.

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'I have been passing sleepless nights from the day of my son's abduction', shell-shocked mother of Miraj told this correspondent.

In absence of Miraj, the entire family has been facing extreme financial crisis. Being the eldest son, he was the sole earning member after death of his father Akbar Ali.

Miraj's wife Jesmin Sultana Kajal, mother Nurjahan and relatives tried their best to free him from abductors. Even they met both the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP), but in vain.

They got only their assurance from the law enforcers.

'What can we do more to get back my husband?', a despaired Kajal told this correspondent.

When the family members went to Idu to know the whereabouts of Miraj, Idu demanded a handsome amount of money as ransom for his release and warned them not to go to police.

The helpless family members informed the matter to local Union Parishad (UP) chairman Abul Qashem Titop. Titop assured release of Miraj within a few days and suggested not to file any case. But Miraj was not released. After four days, they met the Sadar police station officer in-charge (OC) to file a general diary (GD). But the OC suggested them to contact the UP chairman.

Finally, the family members filed a case with a magistrate's court.

They held a press conference at Magura Press Club on August 21, where Miraj's mother appealed for intervention of the prime minister to rescue her son.

The issue was also raised at the law and order review meeting of the district on August 24. Minister in-Charge of Magura district Barkat Ullah Bulu MP, ordered the administration to rescue the abducted person within 10 days, but to no effect. The law enforcers miserably failed to bring the culprits to book.

When contacted, Magura SP Mia Lutfur Rahman Chowdhury said, 'Police hunt is going on to nab the culprits and rescue Miraj'.