Surooq, employed as a car washer, was last spotted on February 17 at a grocery store, dressed in a lungi and white shirt.
What was meant to be a peaceful start to Ramadan turned into a nightmare for one family after their father and husband, 56-year-old MD Surooq Mia, went missing in Ajman on the night of February 17.
MD Surooq Mia, a Bangladeshi expat who has lived and worked in the emirate for the past 15 years, disappeared on Ramadan Eve, according to his employer. He left his accommodation in Ajman’s industrial area and has not returned since. His family, along with his employer Shehzaad and colleagues, have issued a desperate appeal for help in locating him.
Surooq, a car washer employed by Shehzaad’s company, was last captured on CCTV at a nearby grocery store around 9:28 pm, wearing a lungi (a traditional South Asian garment similar to a long skirt) and a white shirt.
His employer told Khaleej Times that after finishing his shift, Surooq returned to his accommodation, sent money home, took a shower, and had dinner. His roommate reported that Surooq carried only Dh100 and left all his personal belongings at home, including his Emirates ID, passport, and clothes.
We trust him completely. Before he went missing, he had sent money home, which his family confirmed they received,” said Shehzaad, an Indian expat who runs the family business. He added that there was no known reason for Surooq to leave voluntarily.
“His room is about 800 metres from the market near our company. We are located close to Ajman’s ‘lucky roundabout’ in the industrial area,” Shehzaad said.
Surooq’s family in Bangladesh includes his wife, two sons, a daughter, and a grandchild. His only relative in the UAE is a working son-in-law. His youngest son, 16-year-old MD Shariful Islam, confirmed that he last spoke to his father between 11:15 pm and 11:17 pm Bangladesh time (9:15 pm–9:17 pm UAE time) on the night Surooq went missing.
“My father told me he had to go to the market, so I hung up the phone,” Shariful said.
In the days since his disappearance, Shehzaad and his employees have been conducting their own search. They visited local authorities, including Ajman Industrial Area Police Station, Hamidiya Police Station, and the Ajman Immigration Office, but found no trace of him. Authorities told them that a missing person’s report can only be officially filed after seven days.
“After iftar, his colleagues have been searching daily and asking around about his whereabouts. On the day he went missing, he didn’t have his Emirates ID with him,” Shehzaad added.
The employer has provided Surooq’s family with a copy of his ID in case he isn’t found soon and continues to seek assistance from local authorities.
Apart from being a passive smoker, Shehzaad said Surooq is generally healthy. He described him as frail, estimating his weight at around 50 kg and his height at approximately 4 ft 8 inches.
His family and employer remain anxious and are hoping for any information that could help locate him. Surooq’s son, Shariful Islam, said, “He last visited Bangladesh in August 2023. We haven’t seen him since then. We hope he is found soon.”
Anyone with information about Surooq’s whereabouts is urged to contact his employer at 0557712686.
