Mymensingh Student Missing After Robbery Attempt

Mymensingh, Bangladesh – A tense search continues for a college student who went missing following an attempted robbery near the Brahmaputra River. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, when two students of Anandamohan College were returning from an outing. While one student managed to escape, the other, Nurullah Shawon (26), has been missing for over 26 hours.

Shawon, a third-year Chemistry student, hails from Char Jakalia village in Jalalpur Union, Kotiali Upazila, Kishoreganj, the son of the late Rafiqul Islam. His mother, Shahida Begum, filed a formal complaint at the Kotwali Model Police Station, prompting authorities to initiate a search and arrest a 15-year-old suspect.

Incident Details

According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, Shawon and his friend Manjurul Ahsan (Riyad) visited the opposite bank of the Brahmaputra River from Jayanul Abedin Udyan for a recreational outing on Wednesday afternoon. Around 6:00 pm, a gang of at least seven juveniles confronted the students, demanding all their possessions. When the pair explained that they only had money for the boat fare, they were physically assaulted.

Shawon resisted the attackers and was beaten severely. Both students attempted to flee; four gang members chased Shawon, while three pursued Riyad. Riyad managed to swim across the river and alert local residents and friends, who subsequently helped police detain one gang member. However, Shawon’s whereabouts remain unknown, despite recovery of his bag and shoes the following morning. Fire service divers joined the search, but no further trace has been found.

Riyad recounted, “After studying at the library near Jayanul Udyan, we went out for a walk. The gang surrounded us, demanding our phones. I managed to escape by swimming across the river, but my friend disappeared. I don’t know what has happened to him.”

Community Protest

In response, teachers and students staged a human chain at Anandamohan College around 3:00 pm Thursday, demanding Shawon’s safe return. Tanzil Ahmed, Organising Secretary of the college student wing, stated, “We demand the immediate and safe return of our fellow student. All involved perpetrators must face exemplary punishment.”

Police Action

Officer-in-Charge Nazmus Sakib of Kotwali Model Police Station confirmed that one juvenile has been detained and will be presented in court on Saturday. The other suspects, all school-going adolescents from classes eight and nine, remain at large. He added, “The search for the missing student will continue until he is safely recovered. Arrest operations are ongoing.”

The incident has sparked concern over student safety along the riverbanks of Mymensingh, with local residents and college authorities urging swift action to ensure Shawon’s safe return.