Families of missing persons continue to gather at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) office in search of information and answers.

Over the past week, law enforcement agencies, including the DB, have been actively conducting arrests, detaining more than 9,000 individuals, the majority of whom are students and ordinary citizens.

Among them is Babli, who along with her four daughters and mother-in-law, were seen pleading for the return of her husband Nasir Uddin, a pickup truck driver taken from their Farmgate home by individuals claiming to be DB officers.

Prothom Alo, the largest daily newspaper of the country spoke with numerous families outside the DB office, many of whom are relatives of day laborers,students, and small business owners.

The frequency of these cases raises concerns about the whereabouts of the missing individuals and the reasons behind their disappearance.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has denied claims of mass arrests, stating that individuals are only apprehended based on substantial evidence, including intelligence, video footage, and witness accounts.

He assures that those wrongfully detained are released after verification. However, official data reveals a significant number of arrests in relation to the quota reform movement.

In Dhaka alone, 2,891 people have been arrested, with the majority having no known political affiliations.

These individuals are primarily students, laborers, and ordinary citizens, raising questions about the accuracy of the minister's statement and the nature of these arrests.

Despite government and police claims of political party involvement in the quota movement violence, the high number of arrests among ordinary citizens raises concerns.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner (Crime) Liton Kumar Saha assures that strict measures are in place to prevent the harassment of innocent individuals and that arrests are only made based on evidence.

However, the discrepancy between official statements and the observed reality continues to fuel questions about the nature and justification of these arrests.

‘Seeking information’

Numerous families are desperately seeking information about their missing loved ones at the DB office. Among them are the relatives of Mohammad Hasan, an Uber driver who disappeared last Friday, and Al-Amin, a student detained for possessing photos related to the quota movement.

Another distressed family is that of 18-year-old Al Amin, an AC repairman who was also taken by the police.

His father, Chan Mia, is pleading for any information regarding his son's whereabouts.

Additionally, the wife of Mobashwer Ahmed, a teacher at an orphanage and madrasa, is seeking answers regarding her husband and another teacher who were allegedly taken to the DB office.

She insists her husband has no political affiliations and was wrongfully detained. The lack of information provided by the authorities is causing immense anguish and uncertainty for these families.

Families of students are also anxiously awaiting news of their missing loved ones.

Salma Begum, the mother of an HSC student at Udayan School and College, is desperate for information about her son, who was picked up by the police during his exams.

Similarly, Nasrin Sultana and her daughter are seeking answers about the whereabouts of her husband, Khalid Saifullah, and son, Ahmed Samaran, a BBA student at North South University.

They were taken from their home by police on July 28th, with assurances they would be released after questioning.

While Khalid Saifullah has since been sent to court, there is still no information available regarding Ahmed Samaran.

The lack of transparency surrounding these disappearances is causing immense distress for families who are left in the dark about the fate of their loved ones.

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