An 11-year-old girl, who went missing from Mohammadpur in the capital on Sunday evening, has been spotted on CCTV footage in Naogaon, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has confirmed.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Mohammadpur Zone Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Jewel Rana said: "This appears to be a love-related incident. The girl eloped with a boy from Naogaon. CCTV footage circulating on social media shows the boy holding the girl's hand."
The DMP official added that police have tracked the girl and the boy, along with their location. However, the girl has not yet been brought back.
"We have spoken to the boy’s parents and relatives. They had the girl with them in the morning, but she left again. They also informed the girl's father about this," he said.
Expressing frustration, the ADC noted that the girl's family allegedly advised the boy's family not to hand her over to the police until they leave.
"Numerous police teams have been working tirelessly since yesterday. But sadly, instead of cooperating, the family is interfering with our efforts," he said.
The girl went missing from the Krishi Market area of Mohammadpur on Sunday evening. Her father subsequently filed a general diary (GD) with Adabor police station.
According to reports, the girl had left home with her younger cousin around 6pm. She was last seen in CCTV footage near Tokyo Square in Mohammadpur, walking with another person besides her cousin.
Family sources said the girl’s mother is battling lung cancer and recently began chemotherapy at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH). The family moved to Dhaka from Barisal two months ago for treatment and had been staying at the aunt’s house in Mohammadpur.
