Although more than three days have already gone by, the police are still in the dark about the disappearance of the journalist of a weekly vernacular newspaper.
Neighbours of the journalist, Golam Sarwar, saw him going out of his house on Thursday morning. His mobile phone remained switched off since then.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday, Jesmine Akhter, wife of the missing journalist said that she is extremely worried over the disappearance of her husband.
“Words fail me to describe my current state of mind. I want my husband back, unharmed, at any cost. I request the police to immediately trace and rescue my husband,” she added.
She said: “I have no idea behind his [Sarwar’s] disappearance. However, he had a long-running land dispute with his brothers.”
Contacted, CMP Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali Zone) Nobel Chakma said that they were putting in their best effort to trace the missing journalist.
President of Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) Mohammad Ali said it is a matter of grave concern that the journalist has remained traceless for more than three days.
“The police should redouble its effort to trace the journalist. We want him back unharmed. We will go for a tougher movement if the missing journalist is not rescued quickly,” said the CUJ President.
Asked about the reason behind the disappearance, he said that they have no clear idea about the motive of the disappearance.
Jubayer Siddique, a senior colleague of the missing journalist, ruled out professional reasons behind the disappearance.
“Personal vendetta may be linked to the disappearance. Sarwar had a long-standing land dispute with his step-brothers. Moreover, the money lenders often threatened him for the unpaid loans,” said Jubayer, also an assistant editor of weekly Ajker Surjodoy.
Meanwhile, the journalists under the banner of Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) staged a sit-in in front of the CMP commissioner’s office on Sunday, demanding immediate rescue of the missing journalist.
Speaking to the journalists, CMP Commissioner Saleh Md Tanvir said that they were trying their level best to rescue the journalist.
“We are trying our best to trace the missing journalist with the help of technology. Our officials are working with all seriousness in this regard,” added the CMP commissioner.