Seven male students belonging to different institutions in Cumilla have been missing since August 23.

Although ranging in age from 17 to 25, they all knew each other, and left home without their mobile phones.  

The students are--Cumilla Victoria Government College’s HSC examinees Imran Bin Rahman and Samy, Cumilla Government College’s HSC examinees Hasibul Islam and Nihal, Imtiaz Ahmed Rifat and Aminul Islam Alamin of Victoria College, and Niloy, a recent graduate of Dhaka’s Daffodil University.

Missing Imran’s father Mujibur Rahman said his son had no connection to anything except studies, college, coaching and namaz (prayer). However from his own statement it is learned that Imran was attending a Tabligh e Jamaat programme too. 

Read: Missing student’s body recovered from Bay in Cox’s Bazar

“On August 23, Imran told me that he would go to a Tabligh programme from his coaching and take time to return home,” Mujibur said, adding that he started searching after Imran didn’t come back that night. Or since, for that matter.   

The following day, a general diary was filed at the Kotwali Model Police Station. Eventually the Rapid Action Battalion was informed, Imran’s father said.

Md Afzal Hossain, additional superintendent of police (ASP) of the district, said they have been investigating since September 5.

“We cannot say anything on whether they all went off together somewhere before we complete our investigation,” he said.

Major Muhammad Sakib, commandant of Rab-11, also refused to share anything on the ongoing investigation.