Mr. Abdul Kabir Choudhry contacted us from Patoki, Punjab. In search of a job, he crossed into India from Bangladesh 35 years ago and then into Pakistan. He lost his identity papers. Back home in Khunlna, Bangladesh, he has a wife, children and siblings. This is the story of his 35 years of solitude, turning into an emotional and physical wreck, giving up hope and then finally finding his courage to make one last attempt to go back.
A picture of Babaji from his younger years
Our first Facebook post was actually the good news of finding his family. That was when we lacked good cameras to shoot videos.
A respected friend from Pattoki contacted me, requesting help in finding this elderly man’s family.
This elderly gentleman came to Pakistan from Bangladesh in 1989. He had intended to travel to Saudi Arabia, but due to a lack of proper documentation, he got stuck in Pakistan.
He is currently serving as a muezzin (the one who calls to prayer) at a mosque in Pattoki and is living a life of hardship. He never married in Pakistan and has no blood relatives here.
He was married in Bangladesh and had two children, with a third on the way at the time.
Last night, around 2 or 3 AM, I sent the details to Brother Manzoor and told him we need to start working on this case. I said I would share the elderly man’s picture in the group once I received it.
This morning at 8 AM, I received a voice message from Brother Manzoor, laughing and saying, “You were asking for his photo, but his family has already been found!”
God willing, the elderly man will speak with his family tomorrow. His nephew holds a good job in Bangladesh and has been calling Brother Manzoor continuously, requesting to speak with his uncle.
One by one, his relatives are getting in touch with Brother Manzoor.
We took up his case with the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad and after some delay and verification, they issued him travel documents.
We wrote to the High Commissioner that Mr. Abdul Kabir owns property in Bangladesh, has educational certificates from Bangladesh, signed witness statement from elected local officials in Bangladesh and official statement of inheritance from his father to himself and his siblings. All these are attached with the letter. We wrote that he has become an emotional wreck and can no longer carry a conversation without breaking down. He needs to go home after 35 years.