Four schoolgirls who went missing from Cumilla have been rescued from Chunarughat upazila in Habiganj, police said.
Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman disclosed the details at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
He said police analysed CCTV footage from different locations and sent messages to police stations across the country.
The girls were eventually rescued with the assistance of Chunarughat Police Station in Habiganj.
The four girls left their homes on the morning of 12 October, telling their families they were going to school. However, none of them attended classes. When school authorities noticed their absence in the afternoon, they informed the police.
Their families subsequently filed a general diary (GD) with Kotwali Police Station.
According to police, the girls left home after becoming acquainted with and growing close to several boys through social media.
They sold an Android mobile phone used by their family to finance their journey.
They first travelled to Dhaka before heading to Chunarughat, where one of the girls’ paternal grandparents live.
Three of the rescued girls are Class V students, while the fourth is a Class III student at Cumilla Police Lines Government Primary School. Two of the girls are sisters.
Police said they were taking steps to recover the mobile phone sold by the girls and other evidence based on information they provided.
Their communications with strangers through social media are also being examined as part of the investigation.
Following the incident, police advised parents to remain vigilant about their children’s online activities and use of social media.
