‘Mun Alert’ services launched to rescue missing children; hotline 13219 activated

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police and Amber Alert for Bangladesh today jointly launched "Mun Alert", a special service designed to rescue missing children swiftly.

The initiative is named in memory of Muntaha, a child who was abducted and subsequently found dead in Sylhet in 2024.

CID Chief Additional IGP Md Sibgat Ullah inaugurated the service at a press conference at the CID headquarters in the capital's Malibagh this morning.

Citizens can now report missing children by calling the CID's toll-free hotline number 13219. Reports can also be filed through the website 'Munalert.org'.

Considering the first three hours after a child goes missing as the "Golden Time", CID will take immediate action upon receiving a report.

Additional IGP Sibgat Ullah said, "A special 'Missing Children Cell' has been formed within the CID. As soon as an alert is issued, a message will reach people in that specific area via various social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram."

He added, "The child's photo and information will also be displayed on digital screens at metro rail stations, ATM booths, and banks. Announcements can even be made using mosque loudspeakers."

Sadat Rahman, convener of Amber Alert for Bangladesh, said, "In 2024, child Muntaha's body was recovered seven days after she went missing. Since then, we thought that if there had been an instant alert system, perhaps she could have been saved. We developed this technological framework with the support of the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)."

He noted that "Mun Alert" would function similarly to the US Amber Alert, Malaysia's Nur Alert, or Pakistan's Zainab Alert. He also mentioned that the scope of the feature would be expanded from March with assistance from Meta, Facebook's parent company.

Mashrur Arefin, chairman of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) and managing director of City Bank, said the banking sector would provide all-out support to this initiative.

He said, "As soon as a Mun Alert is issued, the photo and information of the missing child will be broadcast on ATM screens and televisions in bank branches," adding that with CID's assistance, similar screens could be installed at bus stations and launch terminals in the future, funded by banks.

The briefing also revealed that the hotline number 13219 will be integrated with the national emergency service 999 to ensure 24-hour availability.

Moderated by media and development activist Dipti Chowdhury, the event was attended by BTRC Spectrum Division Director Md Nurannabi and senior officials from CID, Amber Alert, and the Ministry of Social Welfare.