Expatriate Amir Hossain’s family is overwhelmed after 30 years

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Amir Hossain-Rokeya Begum couple has three sons and three daughters. Amir Hossain migrated to Malaysia leaving his children with his wife to bring prosperity to the poor family. He was in contact for the first three years but then disappeared for 27 years. The family members were not getting any news. Six months ago, after seeing a video on social media, Rokeya identified it as her husband’s photo. Amir Hossain’s family then contacted the person who posted the video. After a long six months of efforts, Amir Hossain stepped on the soil of Bangladesh late on Tuesday night. After 30 years, Amir Hussain’s wife and children are overwhelmed.

Amir Hossain’s house is in Dinara village of Chamta union of Naria upazila of Shariatpur. Family members said that Amir Hossain’s family consists of his wife and six children. There was scarcity. Amir Hossain migrated to Malaysia through a broker in 1996 after selling the agricultural land acquired by his family to restore the prosperity of the family. He went there and started painting. He was in contact with the family for three years after moving to Malaysia. He also sent money for household expenses every month. After three years, he suddenly lost contact with his family. The family members could not find any trace of him. The family members did not know where Amir Hossain was, how he was, whether he was alive or not.

Six months ago, an expatriate named Dipu and expatriate journalist Bappi Kumar Das found Amir Hussain mentally unstable in a small tin house in a forest in Penang, Malaysia. From there they rescued him and published pictures and videos on social media. After watching that video, Amir Hossain was identified by his family members. They then contacted the video poster. Through them, the family members talked to Amir Hossain several times on video calls. After that, initiatives were taken to bring him back to the country.

Officials of the Bangladesh Embassy in Malaysia sent Amir Hossain’s photo and the information he provided to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Naria. Information is verified through him. Then Amir Hossain’s birth was registered from Chamta Union Parishad with the help of upazila administration. The birth certificate and various documents of the family members were sent to the Bangladesh Embassy in Malaysia. After that he was given a travel pass and arranged to return home. He reached Dhaka from Malaysia at 12:20 pm yesterday.

BRAC Migration Program and family members received Amir Hussain with the help of Civil Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Expatriate Welfare Desk at the airport. After completing the airport activities, the family members took Amir Hossain to his younger son Shahidul Islam’s residence in Keraniganj, Dhaka. He is currently resting there.

Rokeya Begum ran to her boys in Dhaka on hearing that her husband was returning after 30 years. She was overwhelmed to find her husband at the airport late last night.

Prothom Aloke Rokeya Begum said, ‘He (Amir Hossain) went to Malaysia leaving six children. For three years, he sent more or less money every month for household expenses. Suddenly he stopped communicating. I have been trying to find him in various ways for the past 27 years. Couldn’t find anything. I could not understand whether the man was alive or dead. I got into trouble with the little boys and girls. With the help of relatives and local people, I survived with my sons and daughters. Six months ago one of my brothers showed me a video on mobile, we can recognize him by watching that video. Then our desire to get him back increased. My children contacted different places and tried to bring him back to the country. I never thought that I would get him back after watching a video on Facebook like this. Getting my husband back after so many years is an unforgettable event in my life.’

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Among the three sons and three daughters of Amir Hussain, the eldest son died three years ago. Three daughters are married and live in in-laws’ house. And the two surviving sons work as laborers in Dhaka. They live in a rented house in Keraniganj area of ​​Dhaka.

Amir Hossain’s son Babu Talukdar told Prothom Alo, “When my father went to Malaysia in 1996, I was six years old. I don’t remember any memories of that time. Our mother has struggled to raise six siblings since our father disappeared. We could not study due to lack of money. I have been working as a laborer since childhood. I traced my father through Malaysian expatriate Deepu and Malaysian journalist Pappi Kumar Das. They helped a lot to get the father back. Our family is very grateful to them. I never thought that I would get my father back after so many years. We are all overwhelmed by his presence. Father is a little sick, so is resting. He will be taken to the doctor in one or two days.

BRAC’s Associate Director (Migration and Youth Platform) Shariful Hasan told Prothom Alo that a person living abroad for 30 years and not having contact with family members for 27 years is very painful. Expatriate Bangladeshis played an important role in finding a family for such a person. This return is the end of a long wait not just for an individual, but for a family.

Shariful Hasan said, “This incident is a burning example of the uncertainty of expatriate life. One is mentally unbalanced but no one knows about him. We have seen such incidents in the past as well. We do not know how many others are in such a crisis. But it is important to keep track of every expatriate. In this age of technology, database of every expatriate is not impossible, but essential. Because they are the people of this country and keep our economy running.

Referring to the fact that an official of the Bangladeshi embassy in Malaysia sent a photo of a person and some of his information to verify, UNO Abdul Qayyum told Prothom Alo, “We have contacted the family of that person and sent the information to the Malaysian embassy after verifying it.” After sending some of his documents from here, the embassy took the initiative to return him to the country. He is back home, with family. The upazila administration will be there for any problem of that person.