Chinese youth travels from Jiangxi to Osmaninagar for love, released to in-laws after police custody
They met online, and then fell in love. Drawn by that relationship, a Chinese youth named Leo Favin came from Jiangxi in China to Sylhet in Bangladesh and got married. But when curiosity and tension arose in the area over the marriage to a foreign citizen and his religious identity, he was taken into police custody. Later, after verifying his conversion and marriage documents, police released him into the custody of his in-laws.
The incident took place on Monday night in the Dighirpar area of Kadipur village in Tajpur Union of Osmaninagar upazila in Sylhet.
According to local sources, Jamal Mia lives with his family in a rented house in that area. His permanent home is in the Shaharpara area of Jagannathpur upazila in Sunamganj. Jamal Mia's madrasa-student daughter Samia Akter met Leo Favin, a resident of the Jiangxi area of China, online. At one stage, a romantic relationship developed between them. Following that relationship, Leo came to Bangladesh about a week ago and stayed at Samia's home. They later got married.
When the matter became known, local people began gathering at the house from Monday afternoon. Alongside coming to see the Chinese citizen, they raised various questions about his religion and marriage. At one stage, when tension arose in the area, police went there at around 11 pm and took Leo Favin into protective custody.
Later, the in-laws presented Leo's conversion and marriage documents to the police. After seeing the documents, he was released into their custody that same night.
Leo Favin said his acquaintance and romantic relationship with Samia developed online. After a long relationship, he came to Bangladesh to marry her. After converting to Islam, he took the name Abdullah. He claimed he married Samia following the legal process.
Osmaninagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Mostafa said: 'The Chinese citizen was taken into police custody for security reasons. Later, after seeing proof of his conversion and marriage, he was released into the custody of his in-laws.'
