Missing journo Utpal found in Narayanganj

Utpal Das, a senior reporter of an online news portal who had been missing since October, was found in Narayanganj last night.

A black microbus dropped him off in front of Shahjalal filling station in Aduria of Bhulta around midnight, said Mostafizur Rahman, additional police superintendent of Narayanganj.

As of 2:00am today, he was in the custody of Bhulta police outpost, said Shahidul Alam, an inspector there.

Contacted through the mobile number of Shahidul, Utpal said he was blindfolded when he was dropped off so he could not see anyone.

Asked about his captivity, he said, “I will not talk about it now .... I'm just waiting to go home.”

Earlier around 12:10am, he called his mother Bimola Rani Das through his own Banglalink number, which remained switched off since he disappeared over two months ago.

“I am now in Bholta, and I am coming home,” he told his mother.

His father Chittaranjan Das said, “We are eagerly waiting for him.”

On information from journalists, police took him in their custody when he was looking for transport at Rupganj to return to his Raypura home in Narsingdi.

At the time of filing this report around 2:30am, his parents were on their way to Narayanganj to take him home, police said.

Utpal, a senior reporter of purboposhchimbd.news, went missing on October 10. His phone was found switched off since he talked to his mother the same day.

The incident sparked a huge outcry among journalists, rights activists and social media users. 

Utpal's family and Khugesta Nur E Naharin, editor of the portal, filed two general diaries with Motijheel Police Station in this regard.

In the general diaries they said Utpal called her mother on October 10 noon and informed her that he was at his office.