Ten Madaripur Youths Missing for Ten Months

Ten young men from Madaripur, who left their homeland last year with hopes of seeking better livelihoods in Italy via Libya, have now been missing for over ten months. Their families are appealing to the authorities for assistance in tracing their whereabouts, fearing the worst but clinging to hope.

The missing youths were reportedly deceived by a human trafficking network. Each family allegedly paid between 28 and 30 lakh taka to the traffickers, who have since used the money to construct luxurious duplex homes overnight. However, attempts by the families to inquire about their sons have been met with silence, as the traffickers vanish whenever confronted. The victims’ families are demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits alongside assistance from the government to bring their children back safely.

Madaripur Additional Superintendent of Police, Mohammad Jahangir Alam, stated that only one family has so far filed a case. Three individuals have been arrested in connection with that case. Other families are encouraged to submit written complaints so that legal action can be taken.

The missing youths are listed below:

According to relatives, the youths were lured by Peyara Begum, the wife of Jahangir Dhal of Gajirchar village, with promises of direct passage to Italy. Each was charged 15 lakh taka in advance. In January last year, Limon, Joy, Robiul, Walid, Zidan, Shariful, Azmul, Md. Ali, Tuhin, and Mahbub left their homes and were transported to Libya, where they were allegedly detained and subjected to both physical and psychological abuse. The traffickers reportedly extracted further sums of money under the guise of ransom. In April 2025, the youths were placed on a motorised boat bound for Italy, after which no trace has been found.

Families allege that Peyara Begum’s elder son, Fardin Dhal, directed the human trafficking operations from Italy, while her younger son, Sourav, collected money from the families. Other collaborators include Sabuj Kazi and Mujahid Sheikh, relatives of the principal traffickers.

Parents recount the trauma of watching their children vanish. Anwar Bepari, father of Limon, said: “My son was persuaded to go abroad by Peyara Begum. I gave him passport and money under pressure. Since then, ten months have passed, and we have no news.” Similarly, Shariful Islam’s mother, Razia Begum, stated: “We do not even know if our children are alive. We demand strict punishment for Peyara Begum and the traffickers and the safe return of our sons.”

Locals claim that where Peyara Begum once owned only a tin-roofed house, luxurious duplexes now stand, allegedly funded entirely from human trafficking proceeds. The traffickers reportedly went into hiding when these constructions became publicly known.