14 Years gone, Waliullah and Mukaddas still missing; families seek answers

For 14 years, the parents of Islami University student Md. Waliullah have waited for their son to return home. Now, they fear he may no longer be alive—but they still cling to the hope that he might one day come back.

Waliullah and his companion, Al-Muqaddas, both leaders of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir at Islami University in Kushtia, disappeared on February 5, 2012, while travelling from Dhaka to Kushtia. Their families allege that people identifying themselves as members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Detective Branch (DB) of police took the two men from a bus near Nabinagar in Savar.

Since then, neither man has been traced, leaving their families without any information about whether they are alive or dead.

Waliullah's elderly parents, Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Afifa Rahman, have spent 14 years waiting for their son. His father, a former madrasa principal, says he has increasingly lost hope of seeing Waliullah return home alive. Yet the family cannot bring itself to give up completely.

“If he returns one day,” remains the hope that has kept the family waiting.

Waliullah was from Pashchim Shouljalia village in Kathalia upazila of Jhalokathi. A meritorious student in the Department of Dawah and Islamic Studies at Islami University, he had completed his honours degree and was pursuing his master's degree. He was also the finance secretary of the university unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.

How the Two Young Men Disappeared

According to their family members, Waliullah and Al-Muqaddas travelled to Dhaka on February 2, 2012. On the night of February 4, they boarded Hanif Paribahan bus No. 3750 from Kallyanpur for Kushtia.

The bus left Kallyanpur at around 11:30pm. At approximately 1am, when it reached the Nabinagar junction in Savar, a black car blocked its path, the families said.

According to the two families, eight to 10 people wearing RAB uniforms, along with several people in plain clothes, boarded the bus and identified themselves as RAB and DB personnel. They then took Waliullah and Al-Muqaddas away in the black car.

The families have had no confirmed information about the two men since that night.

General Diaries Filed, but No Trace

Following Al-Muqaddas's disappearance, his uncle, Abdul Hai, filed a general diary at Darus Salam Police Station in Dhaka on February 6. In Waliullah's case, his elder brother, Khaled Saifullah, filed a general diary at Ashulia Police Station on February 8.

The families subsequently contacted police, RAB and other authorities seeking information about the two men. They say, however, that they received no meaningful response.

The families later filed separate writ petitions with the High Court seeking information about the missing men, but the petitions were dismissed.

They also organised human chains and press conferences in an effort to draw attention to the disappearances and obtain information. Despite these efforts, no trace of Waliullah or Al-Muqaddas was found.

A Promising Student and Family's Hope

Waliullah's father, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, is a former principal of Baltala Kaikhali Senior Madrasa in Kathalia upazila of Jhalokathi.

Waliullah was the fifth of seven children in the family. From an early age, he was known as a bright student. After completing his primary and secondary education, he enrolled in the Department of Dawah and Islamic Studies at Islami University, intending to pursue higher education.

Alongside his studies, Waliullah was involved in the political activities of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. His family had hoped he would build a successful career and emerge as a capable leader.

Those hopes changed on the night he disappeared in 2012.

Investigation Starts After Political Change, Then Stalls

Following the change of government on August 5, 2024, and amid demands from students, Islami University formed a fact-finding committee in September 2025 to investigate the disappearances of Al-Muqaddas and Md. Waliullah.

Prof. Abdul Hannan Sheikh of the Department of Management was appointed chairman of the committee, while Moazzem Hossain, acting director of the Planning and Development Division, was appointed member secretary.

Prof. Abdul Hannan Sheikh held two meetings and prepared some preliminary documents for the committee. He later resigned, citing a lack of cooperation from other members.

“I resigned because the other members of the committee were not cooperating. However, the administration did not notify me and did not reconstitute the committee,” he said.

As a result, nearly a year has passed without the university reconstituting the committee or taking further steps to investigate the disappearances.

Family Losing Hope of Justice

Khaled Saifullah, Waliullah's elder brother, said after 14 years of waiting that he had grown exhausted from repeatedly discussing the case.

“I do not feel like talking about this case now. We have become so frustrated talking and writing about this case,” he said.

He also expressed doubt that the government would be able to ensure justice.

“Do you think the government will be able to bring justice in these cases? The law enforcement agencies have been involved in this case. Those who are still in service—will they bring their colleagues to justice? In the context of our country, this is not justice. Even in the case of those who returned, no one brought them to justice,” he said.

Asked whether any state authority had contacted the family, Khaled said no government agency had done so.

He said that after the interim government was formed, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir contacted the family and collected information, briefly raising hopes that progress might be made. However, he said neither the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances nor other state agencies had contacted them.

'Bring Him Home, or At Least Return His Body'

After 14 years of waiting, Waliullah's father, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, continues to call on the state to find his son.

He said Waliullah and Al-Muqaddas were taken away by people identifying themselves as RAB and DB personnel while returning from Dhaka to Kushtia on the night of February 4, 2012.

Despite general diary complaints, appeals to authorities, media reports and human chains, the family has received no information about Waliullah's whereabouts.

The grieving father said the disappearance had taken the joy out of Eid celebrations at their home for the past 14 years. Waiting to see his son again, he said, has become the longest journey of his life.

“If my son is alive, bring him back to us. If he is dead, at least return his body to his family,” he said.

He also demanded that those responsible for his son's disappearance be identified and brought to justice.

Advocate Hafizur Rahman, ameer of the Jhalokathi district unit of Jamaat-e-Islami, said Waliullah was an energetic and talented organiser.

“Because he was a talented leader, he was disappeared to deprive the campus of leadership. I demand that those behind his disappearance be identified and brought to justice,” he said.