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Mohammad Farid, who was separated from his family after being trafficked to Turkey at the age of 10, is finally set to return to his loved ones after 25 years.
His return will bring an end to his elderly mother Nurjahan Begum’s decades-long wait in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar.
Farid is scheduled to be formally handed over to his family on Thursday morning (August 20) at BRAC’s Migration and Welfare Centre in Ashkona, Dhaka.
His younger brother, Syed Alam, has travelled from Cox’s Bazar to receive him.
Twenty-five years ago, Farid travelled to Pakistan with his father and lost a leg in a road accident.
He was later trafficked to Turkey by an international trafficking network, after which all contact with his family was lost.
His relatives eventually believed that he was no longer alive.
Farid arrived in Dhaka early Tuesday (August 18) on a Turkish Airlines special flight from Ankara.
Having spent many years abroad, he had almost forgotten the Bengali language and could provide only his name, his parents’ names and some vague information.
Officials at the airport’s expatriate welfare desk rescued him and sent him to BRAC’s Ashkona centre. With the help of local representatives and journalists, BRAC staff identified his family in Ukhiya within just 12 hours.
On Wednesday, Farid spoke with his family over a video call. His younger brother was able to confirm his identity by recalling that Farid had an extra finger.
The family is now eagerly awaiting the return of their long-lost son and brother.