DHAKA, Sept 3, 2026 (BSS) – The Police Headquarters in a statement today clarified the figures regarding missing children in Bangladesh, aimed at dispelling public confusion and presenting a more accurate picture of missing children in the country.
 

In the statement, it said that a total of 15,717 children aged up to 17 went missing between January and July this year, of whom 13,679 have been rescued or returned to their families, while 2,038 remain untraced.

The clarification came after reports were published in several media outlets claiming that more than 15,000 children had gone missing across the country during the first seven months of 2026.

The Police Headquarters (PHQ) said the reports did not include information about the subsequent status of the missing children, including how many had been rescued or returned to their respective families.

As a result, the reports did not present the complete picture of child disappearances and could create confusion among the public.

The PHQ also said it verified the matter through the relevant police stations at the local level to provide a clearer picture.

According to the verified data, 474 general diaries (GDs) were filed regarding missing children aged between zero and nine years from January to July 2026. Of them, 406 children were rescued, while 68 remained untraced.

During the same period, 15,243 children aged between 10 and 17 years were reported missing. Of them, 13,273 were rescued, while 1,970 remained untraced.

Overall, out of the 15,717 missing children reported during the period, 2,038, or around 13 percent, have not yet been rescued.

Police said children aged zero to nine generally go missing after getting lost while visiting unfamiliar places with family members, being unable to provide their names and addresses, or going to another location while attempting to return home alone.

Children aged between 10 and 17, meanwhile, may go missing due to hurt feelings or resentment, academic pressure, involvement in unethical activities followed by fleeing out of fear or shame, a desire for independent living, attempts to obtain money or other benefits from family members, family disputes and unrest, and the influence of friends or classmates, among other reasons.

The PHQ also noted that the number of missing-person GDs has increased significantly following the introduction of online GD services as part of efforts to make police services more accessible.

According to police data, 17,808 missing-person GDs were filed in 2023, followed by 16,414 in 2024 and 22,550 in 2025.