The family members of missing gold trader Palash Dhar sought the intervention of the prime minister and the home minister yesterday to ensure his safe return. Palash went missing from Noakhali on May 12.
Nipa Dhar, Palash’s wife, made this appeal at a press conference held at the Chittagong Press Club yesterday morning, organised by the Chittagong unit of the Bangladesh Jewellers’ Samity, six days after her husband’s alleged abduction.
Palash, 38, is a resident of the city’s Chawkbazar area, and the owner of NM Jewelers. He went to Noakhali in the afternoon of May 12 for both family and business purposes.
On May 13, his mobile phone was found to be switched off. Palash was supposed to return home on May 13 but he did not and his family could not contact him.
Then, on May 14, Shimul Dhar, Palash’s younger brother, lodged a general dairy (GD) with the Chawkbazar police station.
“I request the prime minister and the home minister to take measures so that my husband is returned safely to me and my two innocent children,” said an emotional Nipa.
“I also urge the police administration to assist us. I want my husband alive,” she said repeatedly at the press conference.
Sujit Baran Dhar, general secretary (GS) of the association, read out a written speech where he demanded that the victim be rescued from the abductors. He added: “Palash’s abduction was pre-planned.”
The speakers also blamed the police for their negligence over the matter.
Officer-in-Charge of the Chawkbazar police station Atik Ahmed Chowdhury said they have not found any clues regarding the alleged abduction.
“Using mobile tracking technology, we traced Palash’s location to Feni and the police there are now looking into the matter,” he said, claiming that the family is not even sure whether he is missing or has been abducted.