Missing Christian priest from Natore rescued in Sylhet

Police have rescued Walter William Rosario from a bus counter in Sylhet five days after the Christian priest went missing in Natore.

Soheli Ferdous, an assistant inspector general at the Police Headquarters, told bdnews24.com that their personnel from the headquarters and local station rescued the priest around 3:30pm on Friday.

An official of Sylhet Metropolitan Police said William was found at the counter of Shyamoli Paribahan at Kadamtali Bus Terminal in the afternoon.

He was first taken to South Surma Police Station and then a team moved him to another location on a microbus.

Police did not say whether they were taking him to Dhaka or Natore.

Natore Detective Branch Inspector Abdul Hye told bdnews24.com: “We’ve heard exactly what you’ve heard. Our superiors have forbidden us from speaking to the media on the issue. We will let you know about the details later.”

William, 42, headmaster of St Louis High School, went missing on his way to Jonail village from Bonparha Mission Market on Monday afternoon.

His brother Premal Rosario said the family searched for him at hospitals and other places when he did not arrive home at night.

They informed police and local administration the following afternoon as the priest was not heard from.

Police appear to take the case seriously as William’s disappearance occurred just before Pope Francis started his Bangladesh tour.

Moreover, his home is situated some hundred metres from that of Sunil Gomes, a Christian grocer who was hacked to death at his shop in the Christian neighbourhood on June 5 last year, an attack claimed by Islamic State, the radical group based in the Middle East.

Police have recently charged 12 militants in court over the murder of Sunil.

On Tuesday night, the law enforcers were present at William’s house when a person called his family and claimed to have kidnapped him. The alleged kidnapper also demanded ransom, Premal said. 

Police have brushed aside the claim as false.