Dhaka Metropolitan Police assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Abdul Kadir, who is known for tracking lost mobile phones, located more than 4000 lost and snatched mobile handsets in the last eight years. For this, the police department rewarded him 22 times and honored him with the 'IGP Batch', the second highest award given by the force, in 2019.
In an interview with Jago News, he talked about finding lost mobile phones, tricks to avoid losing mobile, information on buying and selling old handsets and what to do if lost, etc. Staff Reporter Touhiduzzaman Tonmoy interviewed ASI Abdul Kadir.
Jago News: I want to know the story behind finding stolen mobile phones and your first experience in this act.
ASI Abdul Kadir: When I was performing duties as an assistant of the on-duty officer of Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station in 2015, a woman entered there crying at a night. She said to the on-duty police officer that she lost her mobile phone in Mohakhali area on her way home on a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. And she requested the police to find it in any way.
I became curious to see the woman crying for a mobile phone. I asked the woman what is there on the mobile for which she is crying. The lost phone was the last memory of her father as there are many photos of her with her father on the device, she replied. Her father died a few days ago and after that, she would often see the last memories of her father on the phone, the woman said crying.
The woman's crying touched my heart and I decided to locate the device at any cost. Accordingly, I contacted DB police and sent them a copy of the general diary and other documents. With the help of technology, the phone was, later, found in Barishal after three months. The woman cried in joy even that day when she got her phone back.
Jago News: What should people do after losing their mobile?
ASI Kadir: First of all, they should file a general diary (GD) with a nearby police station. However, they should maintain box and cash memo after buying a mobile handset because it is easier to find out a lost mobile with its IMEI number.
Jago News: Why are not all (of mobile) gotten back after filing GD?
ASI Kadir: We give equal efforts to find every lost mobile but it is a little bit more difficult to track iPhone and OnePlus handsets. It is, however, possible to find around 60-70 per cent of lost mobiles with the help of technology.
Jago News: Why did you take looking for lost mobile phones as a passion apart from the profession?
ASI Kadir: Losing a mobile phone is an emotion and memory for its owner. When people come to police stations after losing mobile handsets, it seems to see that they lost something important. I think If I can give their hobby mobile back, they will be benefitted and I also feel better.
Jago News: After losing their mobile phones, why are people concerned much about their photos and videos on it?
ASI Kadir: Many people keep their personal photos and videos or ones of intimate moments on mobile, that is why they become worried about these. In this case, my suggestion is that they should never maintain personal or intimate moments' photos and videos on mobile.
Jago News: I want to hear the story of finding mobile phones of foreign embassy officials...
ASI Kadir: I have been able to locate around 4,500 mobile phones, so far. Specially, I tracked mobiles of many foreign nationals and foreign embassy officials as Gulshan is an elite area. A Sri Lankan national said 'It's never-to-be-forgotten that Bangladesh police give such a good service' when I tracked his lost mobile and handed over it to him. After getting their lost mobile handsets back, many foreign nationals write about it on their own Facebook profiles/pages. Seeing this, I feel proud as a member of the Bangladesh Police.
Jago News: How many people contact you every day for finding their phones?
ASI Kadir: Around 500 to 600 phone calls come continuously from the morning to 10 pm. People believe they will get their phone back if they inform me. Besides, many others call for advice. But I am not annoyed to get so many phone calls. I try to give suggestions by receiving all the phone calls when I stay sound physically.
Jago News: Some people say you track lost phones for reward...
ASI Kadir: DMP commissioner has, so far, rewarded me 22 times. I achieved the 'IGP Batch' award in 2019 in recognition of my work. I try to find lost mobiles for the benefit of people, not for reward.
TT/SU