Missing Children Must Be Found

Recently, various media outlets reported that more than 15,000 children went missing in the country from January to July 2026. The real picture of missing children is not fully reflected in these reports as there is no information about how many missing children have been rescued or returned to their families, their current condition, etc., AHM Shahadat Hossain, AIG (Media) of the Police Headquarters, told reporters on Thursday. He said that to clear up confusion in the public mind on this issue, the matter has been verified and sorted out through the relevant police stations at the local level. The verification showed that 474 general diaries (GDs) were filed in cases of missing children aged zero to 9 years from January to July 2026. Of these, 406 people have been rescued, while 68 are yet to be rescued. He said that from January to July this year, 15,717 GDs were filed in the country regarding missing children. Of these, 13,679 people have been rescued or have returned. There are still 2,038 missing, which is 13 percent of the total number of missing children. On the other hand, 15,243 GDs have been filed in cases of missing children aged 10 to 17. Of these, 13,273 have been rescued. 1,970 are still missing. About 87 percent of the missing children have been recovered. According to the police, children aged zero to nine years usually go missing after losing their way while traveling with family members to unfamiliar places, not being able to tell the names and addresses of family members, or going somewhere else while returning home alone. The reasons behind the disappearance of children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 years have been found to be pride, pressure from studies, and fear of shame after getting involved in immoral activities. In addition, there are various reasons including the desire to live independently, trying to get money or any other benefits from the family, family quarrels and unrest, and the influence of friends or classmates.

The statistics provided by the police on the rescue of missing or missing children and adolescents are undoubtedly commendable. This demonstrates the police’s efficiency and competence. Missing children and adolescents in the country are not new. Many of them are found, many are not. Most of the missing are members of families living in different slums. The police have to work hard to find them. One of the reasons for this is that due to lack of awareness, the birth registration of children born in slums is not very common. Even many do not have national identity cards when they reach adulthood. Not only in slums, but also the floating street children and adolescents living on the streets do not have birth registration or national identity cards. They cannot even find any specific address. They remain floating in front of the eyes of the state and society. The state does not take measures to rehabilitate them, and society also looks down on them. Yet they are part of the people. They did not come from an alien planet. As citizens of the state, the state’s responsibility to include them in the mainstream of society is not seen being fulfilled. If it had been fulfilled, they would not have had to live in a floating state. Children born in slums or on the streets grow up with a lot of neglect and care. Most of their parents are engaged in labor or household work due to the demands of life, so they cannot take proper care of their children. They grow up without the presence of their guardians. While growing up, they mix with various types of people outside. They fall into the clutches of drug addicts and criminal gangs. Criminals engage the growing teenagers in various types of crimes. They use them for theft, robbery, drug trafficking and they themselves become drug addicts. Teenagers get involved in gangs. On the other hand, dishonest beggar gangs kidnap children and force them to beg by mutilating them. Many times, kidnapping gangs kidnap and sell various body parts including kidneys of these children and teenagers. They kidnap and engage teenagers in anti-social activities. Sometimes they traffic them and sell them to various brothels abroad. These incidents are often seen in newspapers. It seems that no one is looking after these most neglected people in society. The state is responsible for their rehabilitation and ensuring a good life. There is no proof that the state is not fulfilling this responsibility. Some NGOs work in slum areas. But in most cases, this work is done for their own benefit. Even though their fortunes improve with foreign funds, the slum dwellers do not improve. It does not help them to be included in the mainstream of society.

It is as if the state does not even exist for these people living between the state and society. They do not know what the state is and what their basic rights are. There is no initiative to inform them. This significant part of the population remains forever neglected. Society also looks down on them. There is no such thing as their standard of living. Yet it is the responsibility of the state and state administrators to find out about them. Who else but the state will take notice of how they are, where they are going, what they are doing? Whatever the reason, the loss or disappearance of slum or street children and adolescents is not a matter of comfort for society and the state. Its negative impact also affects our mainstream society. It also indicates the failure of the state. Yet it is the responsibility of the state to rehabilitate and provide a good life for these neglected, unidentified and addressless people. Society also has the responsibility to take care of them. We must realize that these people are the best of creation, just like us. Without keeping them in a bad condition or providing rehabilitation, a civilized society cannot be good. The police should be thanked for quickly finding the missing people. However, the whereabouts of those who are still missing should also be given to the police. There is abundant evidence that even difficult tasks become easier when the police are active. Above all, the government should look at the neglected population, including slums. The citizenship of slum or street children should be ensured by providing them with birth certificates and national identity cards. Arrangements should be made so that they can be easily found even if they get lost.