Sept 19 V7N - Abeda Bibi, a widow from Kanthalbari village in Mariya Union, Bagmara Upazila of Rajshahi, has been waiting in vain for her only son, Abdul Quddus, to return home for the past seven years. Quddus left for the market in 2017, but never came back. Abeda Bibi, along with two other families in Bagmara, has been searching for answers since the disappearance of their loved ones, who were reportedly taken away by individuals posing as law enforcement officers.

Abdul Quddus, who managed a pond and a cow farm, left his home on April 6, 2017, with 1.5 lakh taka to purchase cattle. He was accompanied by his uncle Askan Ali, and neighbors Aminul Islam and Ruhul Amin. As they were on their way, two motorcyclists, claiming to be from law enforcement, stopped their rickshaw van. Abdul Quddus attempted to escape but was captured, handcuffed, and taken away along with the money he was carrying. He has not been seen since.

His family filed a general diary at the police station, but no progress was made. A year and a half after his disappearance, in October 2018, Abdul Quddus briefly contacted his brother-in-law, Mumtaz Uddin, explaining that he was being held by RAB in a dark room and subjected to torture. Since then, there has been no further communication, despite the family’s numerous attempts to seek help from the authorities, including the police and RAB.

In response to these cases, a commission led by retired High Court judge Mainul Islam Chowdhury has been formed to investigate the disappearances. The families, including Abdul Quddus' relatives, submitted documents to the commission in the hope of finding answers. The missing individuals, including two others who were taken within weeks of Quddus, were reportedly involved in BNP politics, adding a political dimension to the mystery of their disappearances. Despite the formation of the commission, the families remain without closure.

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