Gaibandha Correspondent

GAIBANDHA, July 18, 2026 — A mother’s desperate search for her daughter continues to face uncertainty as Sheikh Fahmida Akter Firisti (16), a 10th-grade student, remains missing over a month and a half after she was allegedly abducted.

The missing teenager, a resident of Shimultari village in Badiakhali Union, Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, and a student at Old Badiakhali High School, disappeared on May 28. According to the case filed by her mother, Ruby Begum, the girl was on her way to her maternal grandparents' house in Kishamat Gopalpur when she was allegedly intercepted and forcibly taken away in an auto-rickshaw by Liton Mia (25) and his accomplices near the Sukhandighi-Badiakhali road.

The victim's family alleges that Liton Mia, a resident of the neighboring Gobindapur Baridhara village, had been harassing Fahmida for a long time despite their repeated complaints to his family.

On May 30, Ruby Begum filed an abduction case at Gaibandha Sadar Police Station, naming five individuals: Liton Mia, Mahabur Rahman, Laki Begum, Mithu Mia, and Sathi Begum. The family claims that despite the formal complaint, none of the accused have been arrested. They further allege that the accused have continued to threaten them and even filed a countercase against the victim's family members on June 2 in retaliation.

"It has been more than a month and a half," said a tearful Ruby Begum. "I do not know where my daughter is or how she is. I do not know if she is alive or dead. As a mother, what greater pain can there be?"

Local residents have expressed growing concern over the incident and are demanding the swift rescue of the teenager and the apprehension of those involved.

When contacted regarding the lack of progress in the investigation, Gaibandha Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Abdullah Al Mamun stated, "The victim did not use a mobile phone, which has caused complications in tracing her location. However, we are making every possible effort to rescue her using information technology."

The family remains deeply frustrated and distressed, questioning why the accused remain at large and why the investigation has yet to yield results. Their sole demand is the immediate rescue of Fahmida and the uncovering of the truth behind her disappearance.