The Tragic Story of Hefzkhana Student Raihan

• Allegations of Leg Amputation to Force Begging
• Father Finds Him After 7 Months at Chunati Mahfil

This is a horrifying incident that would put even a film script to shame. Raihan, a student at a local Hefzkhana (Quran-memorization school), has returned to Lohagara in Chattogram nearly seven months after going missing while on his way to a barber shop, having taken 100 taka from his father for a haircut. His family alleges that after he went missing, he was taken from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka and handed over to a criminal ring, where he was held captive and forced into begging. Raihan claims that at one point, while he was asleep, one of his legs was cut off.

After the long seven months, several local people recognized him last Sunday morning while he was begging in the area of the traditional Chunati Seerat Mahfil in Lohagara upazila. They then informed Raihan’s family members. Upon receiving the news, his father, Mr. Nazim Uddin, went to the spot and identified his son, then took him home.

Raihan is the son of day laborer Mr. Nazim Uddin of Dakshin Satgarh Nayapara area in Chunati union, Lohagara upazila. He was a student at a local Hefzkhana.

According to Raihan and his family, during the last National Parliamentary election period, Raihan took 100 taka from his father for a haircut and got into a vehicle on his way to a local barber shop. The vehicle headed toward Cox’s Bazar, and he ended up going there, where he supported himself for a while doing body-massage work on the beach.

Raihan claims that while in Cox’s Bazar, a man told him he would give him food and took him to Dhaka, where he was handed over to a woman referred to as “Nani” (grandmother) Salma, in a tin-enclosed room near Kamalapur railway station.

Raihan says he was held captive in that room and forced to beg. He says he saw various kinds of sharp weapons there. He alleges he was taken there under the pretense of being given food and money, but was instead confined and abused.

Raihan says that because his begging earnings were low, one of his legs was cut off one night while he was asleep, two to three months later. Waking up in the morning, he discovered one of his legs was gone; he was then told his leg had been severed in a train accident. After receiving hospital treatment and recovering, he was sent back out to beg at Kamalapur railway station.

Raihan further alleges that one of his kidneys was also removed while he was held captive, claiming there is a scar on his abdomen resembling a surgical incision. However, the kidney-removal allegation cannot be confirmed without medical examination and the necessary medical records. Similarly, how and by whom his leg was severed also needs to be confirmed through investigation.

Although the family found relief after being reunited with their son after seven long months, the incident that befell Raihan has raised numerous questions. Locals are asking: who took him from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka, to whom was he handed over, where was he held, how was his leg severed, and who was using him for begging?

Locals have demanded that Raihan’s account be quickly verified, that necessary medical examinations be conducted, and that his location and movements during the seven months from his disappearance until his rescue be investigated. They have also called for identifying and questioning the woman referred to as Salma and others involved, and for strict legal action against them if the allegations are found to be true.

Locals say that allegations of child abduction, forced confinement for begging, or maiming are extremely serious matters. They stressed that the incident should not remain confined to the family level alone, and that a full investigation by law enforcement is essential. They said that verifying Raihan’s account, medical reports, information from the time of his disappearance, and statements from possible witnesses during the investigation could reveal the true circumstances of the case.