Dhaka begins search for missing Assam woman

The Bangladesh Home Ministry announced on Monday that they have initiated a search for 43-year-old Assam woman, Mumtaz Begum, who has been missing since the night of June 13-14. Mumtaz was transferred to Bangladesh amidst the night and has yet to be found. Officials in Dhaka are waiting for an official communication from India regarding the case.

Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, an additional secretary from the Bangladesh Home Ministry, revealed that they are actively trying to locate Mumtaz, but have no information as of Sunday. The matter was forwarded to the police and other departments late on September 27, days after The Indian Express reached out to authorities.

The Gauhati High Court ordered the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to locate Mumtaz in Bangladesh and bring her back on September 3. The court also directed the Assam government to pay her husband, Mujammel Hoque, Rs 2 lakh as interim compensation. The court found that Mumtaz was expelled without her husband or an adult family member being informed, which violated her democratic due process rights.

Mumtaz was declared a foreigner by the Foreigners Tribunal, but the Gauhati High Court overturned this decision, arguing that basic human rights extend to anyone on Indian soil. The court criticized the tribunal for not giving Mumtaz the opportunity to challenge its opinion before the Gauhati High Court.

Despite the efforts of authorities, there have been no leads found in India. The TOI contacted various journalists, human rights activists, officials, and security establishment sources across Bangladesh, focusing on Sylhet division and adjoining districts. A senior Dhaka-based businessman is working with the government and security contacts to aid the search.

A photo and identification details, including Mumtaz's Foreigners Identification Portal ID, were published in prominent Bengali newspapers on September 22. Bangla daily Manob Kantha also carried Mumtaz's photo and reported on the family's search. However, official efforts in Sylhet have not yielded any results. Sarwar Murshed Shamim, the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner, stated that the police have tried to locate Mumtaz within the metropolitan area but have not been successful, and the search continues.