“I still keep one of my son's pants, when will you come and tell me to give you the pants”

Ayesha Ali has been waiting for her son for 11 years. In 2013, son Abdul Quader Masum went missing. He has not been found since then. Even after all these years, the grief of losing his son does not leave him behind. Still, this mother is hoping that 'Khoka will return'.

On Friday (August 30), an organization called 'Mayer Dak' organized a human chain at the central Shaheed Minar on the occasion of the International Day for the Prevention of Missing Persons. Ayesha Ali was also seen there with the relatives of the missing victims. At that time, he was holding the photo of his son Abdul Quader Masum.

The human chain was held to get back the missing persons during the last 15 years of Awami League rule and to demand maximum punishment for all those involved in the disappearances. Ayesha Ali, demanding to get her son back by taking part there, said, 'Gum's government has run away. Missing government has disappeared my son. I have searched for my son in various places, but I have not found him.'

This mother, who is waiting for her son's return, said, 'My son was hoping to get a job after finishing his studies. But for the past 11 years he has been waiting. I still have one of his pants. When will he come and say – Mother give me my pants.'

Sammi Akhtar's husband Khaled Hasan went missing in the same year Ashea Ali's son went missing. Participating in a human chain holding her husband's photo with tears in her eyes, she said, 'My husband went missing in 2013. I have not found my husband in all these days. It's been 11 years, and I don't want to stand like this.'

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagrik Oikya, presided over the human chain organized by 'Mayer Dak'. Demanding the interim government to quickly return the missing persons to their relatives, he said, 'The awakening that has been created after August 5, many are calling it as freedom. But even then, if the bereaved do not get their relatives back, that freedom will fail.'

Claiming that there are 'mirrors' not only in Dhaka but also in different parts of the country, he said, 'It is our good fortune that Michael Chakma has been able to return from the mirror. But so far many have not returned. It's sad, when we talk about missing people… Ministers used to say – we are also considering people who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea as missing.'

Bandhan/Ciecha/Saa