Missing madrasah student found after 6 days, family duped of Tk10,000

An 11-year-old madrasah student who went missing from Bangshal in Dhaka six days ago has been rescued, while police said a fraud ring extorted Tk10,000 from his family by falsely claiming that he had been kidnapped.

Jisan was rescued from Dhaka yesterday (27 September) and handed over to his family, said Mostak Sarker, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Lalbagh Division.

Jisan went missing from a madrasah at Satarouza Khaje Nehal Jame Mosque on 21 September. His father, Saju Mia, filed a general diary with Bangshal Police Station the following day.

After the disappearance was reported on social media, unidentified callers contacted Saju through Imo and claimed that Jisan had been kidnapped. They initially demanded Tk50,000. After negotiations, Saju paid Tk10,000 to a bKash number provided by the callers, who later demanded more money.

Police traced the bKash number to Sreepur in Gazipur and collected information from the relevant bKash shop, the DC said.

During the investigation, police learned that Jisan had allegedly been accused at the madrasah of taking another student’s mobile phone and Tk200-300. Although Jisan denied the allegation, the phone was later found under his pillow, police said.

Police believe the incident frightened Jisan, prompting him to leave the madrasah. He reportedly travelled by launch from Sadarghat to Chandpur, where he met an auto mechanic named Saikat from Chunkutia in South Keraniganj.

Jisan returned to Dhaka with Saikat the same day and stayed at his home while working at his garage.

The boy reportedly told Saikat that his father had died and his mother had remarried. Suspecting that something was wrong, Saikat contacted one of Jisan’s aunts using a phone number the boy had memorised.

Based on the information, Sub-Inspector Rashedul Islam rescued Jisan on 27 September and handed him over to his family.

Meanwhile, unidentified callers are still contacting Saju through Imo and demanding money, according to police.

Police are investigating the identities of those behind the calls and the extortion attempt.