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๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฉ Bangladesh /Culture & Society

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From Daily Star · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 95-year-old father in Bangladesh has been reunited via video call with his daughter, who disappeared 32 years ago.
  • The daughter, now 52 and living in Pakistan, was reportedly lured abroad by a human trafficking ring.
  • A Facebook post describing fragments of her past, shared by a page dedicated to missing people, led to the reunion.

After 32 years of separation, a 95-year-old father in Bangladesh has finally connected with his daughter through video calls, thanks to a chance discovery on Facebook. Tamiz Uddin Howlader, from Barguna, has been eagerly awaiting his daughter Achia's return since she disappeared from their Dhaka home in 1994 at the age of 19. Now 52 and residing in Pakistan, Achia speaks with her father and brother daily, though a passport, visa, and international border still prevent a physical reunion. The family's ordeal began in the early 1990s when poverty forced them to move to Dhaka. Achia vanished one afternoon, and despite extensive searches by relatives, no trace was found. Her mother passed away three years ago, still holding onto memories of her daughter. According to the family, Achia was lured abroad with the promise of a job and was trafficked across the border, eventually settling in Pakistan where she married and had children. Following her husband's death, memories of her past resurfaced, prompting her to post fragments of her history on Facebook, including her father's address. This post reached Manzur, an administrator of a Facebook page for missing persons, who shared it on his "Nikhoj" (Missing) page. A neighbor of Tamiz Uddin's family recognized the address and initiated contact, leading to the emotional video calls that began on July 20. Achia expressed a deep longing to embrace her family, stating, "I feel like spreading my wings and flying to embrace them all."

When will you come? I just want to hold you once.

โ€” Tamiz Uddin HowladerThe 95-year-old father's repeated question to his daughter during their daily video calls.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.