22-day-old infant’s body recovered from septic tank, father arrested

Police have recovered the body of 22-day-old newborn Montasir Sheikh from an abandoned septic tank in Khulna's Dighlia upazila.

The body was recovered buried in the ground in Lakhohati village of Barakpur union around 10pm on Tuesday. The child's father, Nahidur Rahman Sheikh, 30, has been arrested in this incident.

The arrested Nahidur is the son of Masudur Rahman Sheikh of Senhati village of Senhati union of Dighlia upazila.

Police said that Nahidur married Murshida Akhter Mou, daughter of Mizanur Rahman of Lakhohati village of Barakpur union, about a year and a half ago. 22 days ago, a son was born to them, who was named Montasir Sheikh. After the birth of the child, Mou was staying at her father's house.

On the afternoon of March 2, Nahidur went to his in-laws' house. The next morning, he took the child in his arms and went out of the house. It is alleged that he killed the child and buried it in an abandoned septic tank nearby.

Later, he returned home and told his wife that he had left the child at home. Then, he took his wife on a motorcycle and set off for Dhaka. On the way, he claimed that the child would be found in Faridpur. When Nahidur reached near Faridpur, he felt unwell and was admitted to the hospital.

After recovering somewhat, when his wife tried to escape from the hospital, she screamed and complained that her husband had killed their child. At that time, the hospital staff detained Nahidur and informed the police.

When the Faridpur Kotwali Police Station informed the Dighlia Police Station, the Dighlia Police Station went to the spot and recovered the body of the newborn buried in the septic tank.

Dighlia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Shah Alam said, initially, it is believed that the incident occurred due to a family dispute. During the initial interrogation, Nahidur confessed to killing her child. He is being questioned further to find out the specific reason for the incident. After the body was examined, it was sent to the morgue of Khulna Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. The police said that a case is under process in this incident.