Chandpur Businessman, Wife and Two Sons Reported Missing

Melbourne, 26 August: Concern and speculation have spread in Chandpur after a local businessman reportedly disappeared with his wife and two sons.

The missing businessman has been identified as Pintu Das, who operated a business named SK Shilpalay on the ground floor of Madina Market in Chandpur city. His wife, Rimi, and their two sons, Priyam and Rupam Das, have also been reported missing.

On Wednesday, 26 August, Upoma De, a close relative of Pintu Das and joint convener of the Chandpur district unit of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Students’ Unity Council, confirmed the matter.

Citing family members, Upoma De said Pintu Das had been living with his family in a rented house in Chandpur city. He had reportedly accumulated debts for various reasons. His relatives also learned that an individual from Patowari Bari had recently threatened him. Pintu Das subsequently disappeared with his wife and children, she said.

Some local residents, however, claimed that Pintu Das was involved in a gold-pawning business. They alleged that he had fallen into financial difficulties after accepting gold ornaments as collateral but failing to return them when customers sought to repay their loans and recover their jewellery. He had also reportedly borrowed money from several local associations to support his business.

According to local residents, Pintu Das had moved his business several times before most recently operating SK Shilpalay at Madina Market. Some customers alleged that the loans offered against pawned gold were considerably lower than the jewellery’s market value.

Russell Khan, son of Mansur Khan from Raghunathpur, said he had pawned two and a half bhori of gold jewellery to Pintu Das for Tk50,000.

“When I returned the money and went to collect my jewellery, he asked me to come back the following day. I later learned that Pintu Das had disappeared with his wife and children,” Russell said, adding that he had filed a complaint with the police.

Zahidul Islam, a resident of South Gunrajdi, said he had pawned 12 ana of gold to Pintu Das. Another resident of the same area, Shubhankar Majumdar, said he had pawned 10 ana of gold. They claimed Pintu Das had rented the shop at Madina Market and started operating there around five to six months ago.

Pintu Das is originally from Fatikchhari in Chattogram. He is also reported to have relatives in Cumilla and Mudaffarganj.

Uncertainty remains over whether Pintu Das and his family are missing or have gone into hiding. The incident has caused anxiety among relatives and prompted widespread discussion in the local community.

Ferdous, the second officer at Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station, said locating Pintu Das could be difficult if he had deliberately gone into hiding with his family. He could not immediately confirm whether a formal complaint had been lodged.

The officer-in-charge of Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station said police had been informed that Pintu Das and three members of his family were missing. He added that the matter would be investigated and necessary steps taken to locate them.