A Bangladeshi woman, who went missing from Gaibandha about 13 years ago after losing her mental balance, has finally returned home with the help of Manav Sewa Ashram (Human Service Ashram), a Nepali non-governmental organization.
Momena Begum, 50, returned home on Thursday thanks to the efforts of some workers of the Nepali organization.
Workers of the NGO’s Chitwan city branch restored her health with long-term medical care and brought her back to her relatives.
But time did not wait for Momena.
Abdul Kuddus Ali, her husband, remarried two years after she went missing. Both of her parents also died. Meanwhile, her five children found new homes at the residence of their two maternal aunts.
In such circumstances, Momena took refuge in the home of her elder sister Afroza Begum in Ghoramara village of Kamardaha union in Gobindaganj.
Kamardaha union parishad Chairman Syed Shariful Islam said: “Momena used to go missing from her husband's house from time to time due to her mental illness. One day she went missing for what would be years, leaving behind her 2 daughters and 3 sons.
“She crossed the border on foot and went to a forest in Ramnagar, Chitwan. Some workers of the Manav Sewa Ashram saw her around five years ago and took her to their shelter. After she was nursed back to health by the workers, Momena told them her address.”
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The young workers of Manav Sewa Ashram then returned Momena to her family on Thursday, Shariful added.
The UP chairman continued: “As her husband’s second wife was unwilling to let her stay in their house, Momena was taken to her father’s house in Ghoramara village. Her children and other family members were ecstatic at seeing her after all these years.”
Momena’s children expressed their gratitude to the staff of Manav Sewa Ashram for bringing back their mother.
Gobindaganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ramkrishna Barman said Momena would be rehabilitated as she was helpless.
“Momena will be given a piece of land and we will see to it that she has a roof over her head,” said Abdul Latif, chairman of Gobindaganj upazila parishad.