Police seem nonchalant in rescuing non-registered missing children

Every minute is filled with uncertainty and anxiety for families after a child goes missing. Although 'Moon Alert' was launched to quickly disseminate information to the public to rescue missing children, a major coordination crisis has emerged from the very start. Allegations have arisen that there is currently no effective coordination between the Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Moon Alert organizers. As a result, while there is a system to rapidly broadcast a missing child's photo and identity to thousands of people, a coordinated rescue effort by law enforcement agencies based on that information is not being ensured.

Yet, the first few hours after a child goes missing are considered the most crucial time, or the 'Golden Time'. If information about the child's photo, identity, and last known location can be rapidly disseminated within this time, the chances of rescue also increase. However, due to the lack of coordination between the technology-dependent alert system and the state-run rescue mechanism, the effectiveness of this initiative is now being questioned.

Moon Alert Has the Technology, Lacks Coordinated Rescue System: The 'Moon Alert' – 'Missing Urgent Alert' – was launched to quickly disseminate information about missing or abducted children to the public. Based on the Amber Alert model, this system is essentially a technology-dependent initiative to rapidly broadcast the news of a child's disappearance.

When a child goes missing, their photo, identity, and last known location are collected and disseminated via social media and various digital platforms. Launched in Bangladesh for the first time in South Asia with the collaboration of Meta, this system can send alerts to Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram users within approximately 160 kilometers of a specific area. However, once this alert is received, a state-level coordination is needed to conduct swift field operations, and that is where the complexity has arisen.

Sadat Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of the Zero Missing Children Foundation, says they start their work after receiving information about a missing child from the police station. Moon Alert has been launched on Facebook and Instagram with Meta's collaboration. Although their work started in partnership with the CID, they are currently not receiving cooperation from them.

He said that they can disseminate information about missing children to the public, but they cannot rescue them. The responsibility for rescue and investigation lies with law enforcement agencies. Therefore, alongside specialized police units for missing children, a national database, special budget, and integrated system are required.

CID's Statement: Administrative and Policy Complexities: Regarding the lack of coordination with Moon Alert, a senior CID official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Moon Alert was previously formally associated with the CID. Currently, they are working independently.

He explained that the joint initiative did not reach full fruition due to administrative changes and policy complexities. Working with government agencies requires following established procedures and ministerial directives. There are some coordination limitations between Moon Alert's activities and government procedures. In other words, while the private sector has created the technology for rapid alerts, the process of regularly and effectively integrating that technology with state agencies is currently stalled.

Allegations of 24-Hour Waiting Period: Relatives of missing children allege that when they go to the police station after a child disappears, a General Diary (GD) is often not filed immediately. They are first asked to check with relatives, acquaintances, or the child's friends. If the child is still not found, they are then told to file a GD. In many cases, they are even told to file the complaint after 24 hours have passed.

According to those associated with Moon Alert, this very concept needs to change. There is no room to wait 24 hours after a child goes missing. The collection, verification, dissemination of information, and law enforcement action need to begin within the first few hours. Because as time passes, the task of finding the child becomes increasingly difficult.

Not Just Alerts, Rescue Operations Needed: Social and crime analyst Dr. Touhidul Haque believes that as soon as a child is reported missing, it is crucial to disseminate their photo and information on social media, publish contact numbers, and use technology to monitor suspects.

According to him, there is no alternative to coordination between government and private initiatives. If the technical capabilities of law enforcement are enhanced and they work jointly with private initiatives, it will be more effective in swiftly rescuing missing children and suppressing crime.

Among Those Rescued, Some Have Died: The outcome for missing children is not always a safe return. Last July 9, two-year-old child Abdullah went missing from Tarakanda, Mymensingh. After searching in various places to no avail, the family filed a GD at the police station. The child's body was recovered two days later.

Crime analysts fear that some missing children may fall into the hands of trafficking rings, be trafficked abroad, or become involved in various crimes. Therefore, just as a system for rapid alerts is needed after a child goes missing, swift investigation and rescue operations based on that information are equally essential.
How effective can technology be if there is no coordination? The biggest strength of Moon Alert is the rapid dissemination of information. And the strength of law enforcement is conducting investigations and rescue operations. To find a child quickly, these two systems are supposed to work together; but if that very coordination is lacking, then it becomes difficult to achieve the desired result even after sending alerts to thousands of people through technology.

2,000 children still missing: In the meantime, countless children are going missing every day. Three-year-old Abdul Mahin went missing on September 2 from the Nangalkot area of Cumilla. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a light-colored jersey and half-pants. Two days have passed, but no trace of him has been found.

On August 28, 12-year-old Abir Hossain Rifaat went missing from Mirzaganj, Patuakhali. Dressed in a dark black T-shirt and full pants, Rifaat's whereabouts have not been found for nearly a week. Earlier, on August 18, eight-year-old child Ilma went missing from the Hazaribagh area of Dhaka. Almost 15 days have passed, but her family has not found her.

Mahin, Rifaat, or Ilma – such incidents are not isolated. According to information from Police Headquarters, from January to July this year, over seven months, General Diaries (GDs) were filed for the disappearance of 15,717 children across the country. Among them, 13,679 have been recovered alive or dead. Still, there is no trace of 2,038 children.

Mahin's family is waiting. Rifaat's family is waiting. Ilma's family is also waiting.

And like them, more than two thousand other families are counting down the days, holding onto hope that they will get their children back.