Boy rescued from container is from Cumilla

The boy found in a cargo container in Malaysia's Port Klang on January 17 is from Cumilla. He went missing more than two months ago, a family from the district claimed yesterday.

His name is Ratul, 14, the eldest son of day-labourer Faruk Mia from Satpukuria village in Monoharganj upazila, said one Azgar Mia, who identified himself as the boy's uncle.

"We identified Ratul after seeing his photos in the media ... He is mentally challenged. He went missing around two months ago," Azgar told The Daily Star over the phone yesterday.

"Faruk has three sons. Ratul is the eldest among them. Faruk is poor and did not have the money to go and file a general diary with police when his son went missing," claimed Azgar.

The correspondent yesterday spoke to Md Shahidullah, a local union parishad member.

"After hearing the incident, I went to Faruk's house. Faruk and his wife told me that the boy is their son Ratul," said Shahidullah.

When the news spread in the area, local journalists also went to Faruk's house for his interview.

"My son Ratul left home on a Friday afternoon around two months ago and never came back. We searched for him in our area and at some of our relatives' houses. But we could not find him," Faruk said during a television interview.

"At one stage, we gave up any hope of getting him back. All of a sudden, we came across photos of our son in the media," Faruk added.

His wife Rokeya Begum told reporters, "I want my son back. I request the authorities concerned to take necessary measures to bring back my son as early as possible."

Contacted, Monohargonj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shafiul Alam said, "After hearing about the matter, I sent an officer to Faruk's house. Faruk and his wife are claiming that the boy is their son. We are looking into the claim."

On January 17, a boy was rescued from an empty container in Malaysia's Port Klang. A video clip of it went viral on social media.

The Daily Star obtained several clips in which the boy called himself "Fahim" when Bangladeshi employees at the port asked him his name in Bangla.