13,679 of 15,717 missing children recovered: Police Headquarters
Police have reported that 15,717 children went missing across the country from January to July this year. Of them, 13,679 have been recovered. Another 2,038 remain missing, accounting for around 13 percent of the total number of missing children. The information was disclosed in a message sent by Police Headquarters today.
AIG (Media) of Police Headquarters, Mr. A H M Shahadat Hossain, said reports had recently been published in various media outlets claiming that more than 15,000 children had gone missing in the country between January and July 2026. As those reports did not mention the subsequent status of the missing children, including how many had been recovered or returned to their families, they did not fully reflect the actual picture of missing children.
He said that to clear up public confusion over the matter, the issue had been verified and scrutinised at the local level through the relevant police stations. The verification found that 474 general diaries (GDs) were filed over cases of children aged between zero and nine going missing from January to July 2026. Of them, 406 were recovered, while 68 have yet to be recovered.
On the other hand, 15,243 GDs were filed over children aged between 10 and 17 going missing. Of them, 13,273 were recovered, while 1,970 have yet to be recovered. According to Police Headquarters data, a total of 15,717 children were reported missing during the period. Of them, 13,679 have been recovered, while 2,038 remain missing. In other words, nearly 87 percent of the missing children have been recovered. Police said children aged between zero and nine generally go missing after getting lost while visiting unfamiliar places with family members, being unable to provide their family members’ names and addresses, or going elsewhere while returning home alone.
On the other hand, among children and adolescents aged 10 to 17, police have found that hurt feelings, academic pressure, and staying away out of shame after becoming involved in immoral activities are among the reasons behind their disappearance. Other reasons include a desire to live independently, attempts to obtain money or other benefits from their families, family disputes and unrest, and the influence of friends or classmates, police said. Police Headquarters further said that an online GD facility is currently available as part of efforts to make police services more accessible. As a result, the number of general diaries has increased significantly.
