Kolkata: After the mysterious disappearance of Bangladeshi professional photographer Syed Abdullah Johi (38) from the Kestopur area a month ago, his family members and relatives want to come to Kolkata to intensify the search process. Johi, son of renowned Bangladeshi sculptor Syed Abdullah Khalid, came to the city with his wife Masrufa Tasmin on Feb 10 for IVF treatment on a medical visa and went missing. Unfortunately, till date there has been no hint or clue about his whereabouts. A missing complaint was lodged at Baguiati PS on March 11 and investigation is ongoing.“I call up Baguiati PS almost thrice a week from Dhaka hoping there might be some progress in the investigation, but every time I got depressed,” said a morose Tasmin when contacted. “He left the room on March 11 afternoon to smoke and never returned. We had a doctor’s appointment that day,” recalls Tasmin. She returned to Bangladesh on March 22 after getting a nod from the Bangladesh deputy high commission and the Foreign Regional Registration Office in Kolkata. Johi’s cell phone that was missing, was later found lying on a two-wheeler parked in a nearby lane where they used to stay at Prafulla Kanan West.Ripon Mondalused to liaison with the couple about the infertility treatment, and had also arranged for their long-term stay in Kestopur from where Johi disappeared. He said, “I am in the business for the last 12 years mainly felicitating Bangladeshi patients, but have never witnessed such a bizarre incident.” Tasmin, in anticipation of Johi’s return, has also kept his passport in Mondal’s custody. “We have printed posters and leaflets about Johi’s missing information and contact details which will be distributed and pasted across the city soon,” added Mondal.Umme Kulsum, mother of Johi, who was the youngest among her three children said, “Johi tied the knot three years back and was depressed over not having a child. He had also developed some mental illness.”Johi’s father Syed Abdullah Khalid, who passed away in 2017, was a renowned Bangladeshi sculptor and painter who created “Aparajeyo Bangla” (Invincible Bengal), one of the most iconic monuments dedicated to the Muktijoddha (Freedom Fighters) of the 1971 Liberation War. The sculpture situated at the University of Dhaka, was commissioned in 1973.
