Staff Correspondent
Concern is growing in Araihazar, Narayanganj, over a series of incidents involving teenage girls being reported missing. Police said 40 general diaries (GDs) have been filed at the police station over the past three months after teenage girls went missing from different parts of the upazila. In several cases, relationships reportedly developed through contacts made via mobile phones and social media have emerged as a possible factor.
Mohammad Sabjel Hossain, officer-in-charge of Araihazar Police Station, said 40 GDs had been filed over the past three months concerning missing teenage girls. He said each case was being investigated with due importance.
According to police information, four separate GDs were filed by family members on Thursday (27 August) after four teenage girls went missing from different areas of the upazila on the same day. The four girls were aged between 14 and 17. Police later managed to trace the whereabouts of two of them, while efforts were continuing to locate the other two.
Local residents and police sources said some of those reported missing were students at schools and madrasas. In some cases, girls reportedly came into contact with known or unknown young men through various mobile applications and social media platforms, and relationships subsequently developed. Those familiar with the situation believe some girls may have left home because of family restrictions, parental reprimands or fears that their relationships would not be accepted.
Police, however, cautioned against attributing all cases to the same cause. After a teenage girl goes missing, investigators are examining whether she left home voluntarily or whether she may have been lured, pressured or deceived.
Mohammad Sabjel Hossain said families should inform the police without delay when a teenage girl goes missing rather than keeping the matter private. Providing police with the girl’s most recent photograph, mobile phone number, social media details, information about people with whom she had been communicating and possible destinations can assist the investigation, he said.
The police officer added that, alongside tracing the missing girls, investigators were also examining whether any of them had been subjected to inducement, pressure or deception.
Those concerned with the issue said the phenomenon of teenage girls leaving home could not be explained solely by the use of mobile phones or social media. Emotional changes during adolescence, a lack of communication within families, insufficiently supportive relationships between parents and children, and the risks of communicating with strangers online all require greater attention.
Araihazar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Asadur Rahman said simply taking away mobile phones or imposing strict discipline would not solve the problem. Parents and guardians need to communicate regularly with teenagers and build trusting, friendly relationships with them. At the same time, young people should be taught how to use mobile phones and social media safely and responsibly.
The figure of 40 missing-person GDs filed over three months has raised fresh concerns about the safety of teenage girls in Araihazar. However, detailed statistics have not been made public showing how many of the 40 girls remain missing, how many have been rescued or traced, or how many cases involved romantic relationships, family disputes, inducement or other circumstances.
As a result, it has become increasingly important to examine each of the 40 cases separately to establish the girls’ current whereabouts, determine the actual circumstances surrounding their disappearance and ensure their safety. Such a review could also help identify recurring risks and strengthen preventive measures for teenagers and their families.
