Selina Gomez, a Dutch citizen who was taken to the Netherlands by an adoptive family when she was just one and a half years old, has returned to Cox’s Bazar in search of her biological parents.
Now 45, Selina has spent nearly 44 years away from Bangladesh and has almost no memories of her birthplace. She is now visiting different parts of Cox’s Bazar, particularly areas where she believes she may find clues about her biological family, and distributing leaflets in her search.
Selina was born in Malumghat, Dulahazara, Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar.
Her travel companion, Rashel Alam, said Selina first came to Bangladesh about seven or eight years ago and has returned several times since. She most recently arrived in Bangladesh on October 28.
According to Rashel, they met through a mutual acquaintance, and he has since been helping Selina search for her biological family.
Selina has preserved several old documents that she believes could help her find her family, including a black-and-white photograph from her childhood and a photocopy of the passport she used when she left for the Netherlands.
The passport records her date of birth as July 7, 1981, and her nationality as Bangladeshi.
“I am looking for my parents. I miss them very much. I cannot remember them, but I know my mother’s name is Helena Gomez and my father’s name is Benedy Gomez,” Selina said.
“I feel alone in the Netherlands. I hope I can find my parents and the rest of my family,” she added.
Speaking about her birth and adoption, Selina said she learned that she was born in Malumghat.
“I was told that a woman took me to Dhaka when I was one and a half years old. From there, a Dutch family adopted me and took me to the Netherlands. I grew up in that family with care and love,” she said.
Rashel said Selina would stay in Bangladesh for another 10 to 15 days and that they would continue searching for her family together.
She is currently staying in Cox’s Bazar.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
