|
|
 |
| |
Police have joined the search for Camden Town schoolboy Ayon Ahmed |
MISSING BOY: COPS CALL UP BANGLADESH
School joins search for ‘lovely’ pupil last seen with father
SCOTLAND Yard has joined an international search for a primary school pupil with learning difficulties believed to have been taken to Bangladesh behind his mother’s back.
Ayon Ahmed, 10, has been missing from lessons at Holy Trinity and St Silas School in Camden Town since the Christmas break.
Police are trying to trace his father, Syed Nurrudin Ahamad, who allegedly told Ayon’s mother that he planned to take their child to see relatives in Shannon, Ireland, and for no longer than five days.
Zahida Ahmed, Ayon’s mother, said she was later told by other family members that father and son had instead travelled to Barisal, a port town in northern Bangladesh.
She said she had received one phone call from Mr Ahamad at the start of the month but that he has not been in contact since.
Police said last night that it had been established the boy was not in Ireland.
Ayon’s school has joined the search by publicising attempts to trace his whereabouts.
He has been diagnosed with speech and learning difficulties which make it difficult for him to construct full sentences. Teaching staff said the challenges he faces meant he was at risk of having low self-esteem and confidence. He had made a small group of close friends who sometimes spoke up on his behalf at school.
It is not illegal for Mr Ahamad to take his son abroad and Ayon has a Bangladeshi passport – but police want to establish the full circumstances of their trip and why the boy has not returned in time for the new school term.
Mrs Ahmed, who split up with Ayon’s father in October last year, said: “He has liked being a part of the school and was happy. He had told his friends he was going to Ireland over the holidays”
Ayon was described as loving art classes and enjoyed painting.
Mrs Ahmed recently moved to Golders Green from Castle Road in Camden Town. She is now considering travelling to Bangladesh to find her son.
Annie Williams, headteacher at Holy Trinity and St Silas, raised the alarm on Friday when distributing fliers and pinning up posters with Ayon’s photograph. Classmates were told of the search on Friday and prayers were said for the youngster.
She said: “Some of the pupils were quite upset and went straight home to tell their parents about it.”
Ms Williams added: “Ayon is such a lovely pupil. He has speech and learning difficulties, which will be harder in Bangladesh, where he doesn’t know the language.
“The change in environment could harm his educational development – it might be very disorientating for him, so we are all very worried. It is hard because in Bangladeshi law, the father has the right to have his son where he wants.”
Mr Ahamad was living in the Caledonian Road area of Islington and working in a casino.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “Ayon’s father had made arrangements to take Ayon on a five-day trip to stay with the family in Shannon. Enquiries have confirmed that the pair are not in Shannon. It is believed they are now in Bangladesh. We are now working with the Bangladesh authorities and the High Commission to locate Ayon.”
Officers are urging anyone with information that might help their enquiries to call 0207 230 8315. |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
