Mother, son reunited after 17 years in Patuakhali

Bakul Bala left home without saying a word 17 years ago in search of her youngest daughter Alo Rani.

In that pursuit, Bakul too went traceless. Eventually, her family made peace with the fact that the two would never be seen again.

That is until yesterday, when her son Thakur Krishna Howlader (45) finally found Bakul, now aged around 80, near Titas Cinema Hall in Patuakhali district town.

Bakul Bala, a local of Talbaria village under Galachipa upazila, was first spotted on Friday by Ripon Chandra, Krishna's son, who is doing his masters at Patuakhali Government College.

He was passing by Sagujbagh in the town when he saw Bakul. 

Although, he was very young when his grandmother had left, something drew him towards the woman. Ripon had grown up hearing stories of his grandmother and faintly remembered what she looked like.

He went home and informed his father, who rushed towards a reunion he had given up all hope on.

Right before her disappearance, Bakul, who has two sons and two daughters, had just married off her youngest daughter Alo.

But within a few days of the marriage, Alo's husband left for India. Bakul's daughter decided to go there too and find her husband.

When the wait for Alo's return became unbearable for Bakul, she too left home to find her.

That is where the story ended, till yesterday.

"She went to look for my sister, but she got lost. I am grateful to the people of this area, who supported her with food and shelter over the years," Krishna said.

Locals said that the elderly woman was found by the roadside on a rainy day some four years ago.

Sharmin Akhter Laizu, a restaurant owner, initially gave her shelter.

Later, area Councillor Kajal Baran Das arranged clothes and blankets for the lost individual.

Baran said overtime Bakul became known in the area. She spoke little and seemed emotionally distant.

"We made her a hut to stay in. We are happy she has been reunited with her family."