When truth is stranger than fiction!
Habibur Rahman had left for Chattogram in 1972 and never came back
The story of Habibur Rahman, 78, is stranger than fiction.
A former resident of Mathiura union under Beanibazar upazila in Sylhet, he went missing in 1972. His family had given up all hopes of ever finding him and were not even sure if he was alive.
However, with the help of fate and social media, his family finally found him last Friday through a video on Facebook.
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Back then, Habibur was trading in rods and cement. In 1972, he left for Chattogram and never came back. He had been away from his family and friends for 47 years.
"Habibur had been living at Moulvibazar's Shahabuddin Mazar area for the past 25 years," said Sufian Ahmed, his neighbour.
"He was mentally challenged at that time. For the last 12 years, Razia Begum, 50, from Rayeshri village adjacent to the mazar, used to look after him. I have come to know from Razia Begum that he has been living in the mazar for the last 25 years."
Sufian said Habibur broke one of his legs 22 days ago. Razia took him to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital and later to Sylhet MAG Osmani Hospital.
Though she needed to go home, Razia could not leave the old man at the hospital all alone. One day, she told the story of Habibur's life as vagabond for 25 years to one of her relatives who was present at the hospital. The relative then posted a video containing his story to Facebook which went viral soon after.
An American expatriate from Beanibazar identified Habibur Rahman from the video and sent the video to the old man's family on Thursday.
After watching the video, two of his sons, Shahab Uddin and Jalal Uddin, rushed to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and finally met their father after 47-year-long wait. Habibur also told them the address of his house in Beanibazar.
Emotional, the sons moved him to private hospital Al-Haramine Hospital in the city. They also brought Razia Begum to look after their father.
Habibur's son Jalal said, "We gave up all hopes of getting our father back. We were not even sure if he was alive. We are blissful as we have gotten our father back after 47 years. Our children will see their grandfather. We have nothing else to expect from life."
Kefayat Ahmed, the son of Jalal and Habibur's grandson, said, "Since my childhood, I have been hearing about my grandfather. I thought I would never be able to meet him but I have always craved to see him. I am happy to have found him."
