Dream of Greece leaves families bankrupt, 2 youths missing for 7 months
Two youths from Dirai upazila of Sunamganj have gone missing for seven months after leaving for Libya with dreams of reaching Europe.
The youths were reportedly supposed to travel from Libya to Greece by sea. However, nearly seven months have passed since their departure, and their families have had no contact with them or received any information about their whereabouts.
After failing to trace the youths despite contacting various people, their families are now living in uncertainty and despair. Meanwhile, the alleged agent who arranged their journey has reportedly left the area after locking his house.
The missing youths are Atiqur Rahman, 19, son of farmer Farid Mia of Nogdipur village, and Ayor Mia, 24, son of Gulzar Mia of Kauyajuri village in Dirai. They reportedly went missing at around the same time while attempting to reach Greece through the same agent.
However, the families had not filed any complaint with Dirai Police Station or elsewhere as of Wednesday (September 23) afternoon.
The alleged agents are Raju Mia and his father Swadhin Mia of Chhoto Nagdipur village. Swadhin is currently in Bangladesh, while his son Raju lives in Italy and allegedly coordinates such arrangements from there.
Attempts to contact Swadhin found his mobile phone switched off. Raju, contacted via WhatsApp, denied all allegations and said he had never heard of Ayar Mia or Atiqur Rahman.
Local residents said Ayar’s family paid Tk9 lakh to arrange his journey to Greece, of which Tk2.5 lakh was later returned following several arbitration meetings.
It was learned that Raju had previously lived in Libya and now lives in Italy. He has allegedly sent several youths to Greece.
Atiqur’s father, Farid Mia, said, “Seven months ago, in the month of Poush last year, I reached an agreement with Swadhin Mia’s family to send my second son, Atiqur Rahman, to Greece for Tk13 lakh.
“For this purpose, I sold eight cows, mortgaged my land and took a loan of Tk2 lakh. I paid Tk8.5 lakh to Swadhin Mia in the presence of his younger brother Phul Mia and local Union Parishad member Nur Alam.
“He told me that my son would be sent by sea from Libya to Greece. Since then, I have not seen my son for the last seven months. When I asked Swadhin Mia and his son about him, they told me that Atiqur was in prison on one of the islands. They gave different statements on different occasions.
“Recently, Swadhin Mia’s family left the village after locking their house. I paid Tk8.5 lakh with great difficulty. I have not received any news about my son for the last seven months. Now I do not know what to do.”
Ayar’s father, Gulzar Mia, said, “I reached an agreement with Swadhin Mia’s family in Nagdipur to send my elder son, Ayar Mia, to Greece and paid Tk9 lakh. Swadhin Mia’s son Raju took my son to Libya and kept him there for some time.
“Seven months ago, he told me that my son would be sent by sea from Libya to Greece in a small boat. Since then, I have not heard from my son.
“I held three to four arbitration meetings with members of Swadhin Mia’s family and residents of Nagdipur, Kauyajuri, Chhayhara and Daulatpur villages regarding my son’s fate and the return of the money.
“After prolonged arbitration, Swadhin Mia returned only Tk2.5 lakh. He neither returned the remaining money nor provided any information about my son. Nowadays, Swadhin Mia’s house is locked and all his family members’ mobile phones are switched off.
“I cannot sleep because I am deeply concerned about my son. I have also suffered two strokes due to this tragedy.”
Nur Alam, a member of Ward No. 1 of Jagdal Union, said the allegations regarding the disappearance of the two youths after they attempted to travel to Greece through Swadhin Mia’s family were true.
“Everyone here knows about this. Following Gulzar Mia’s complaint, arbitration meetings were held and Swadhin Mia returned Tk3 lakh to him. His house has been locked for quite some time.
“If the families of the two youths go to the police station and file formal complaints, we will provide all the information we have,” he said.
Dirai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Aminul Islam said they had not received any complaint regarding the matter.
“The families of the two missing youths have not approached us so far. If they file official complaints, we will take strict action. Otherwise, we cannot do anything about it,” he said.