‘Father’ disappears leaving 6-month-old baby in launch

A man who introduced himself as the father of 6- to 8-month-old baby girl has disappeared after leaving it on a Dhaka-bound passenger launch from Bauphal in Patuakhali.

The sensational incident that took place on the MV Bandhan-5 launch on Wednesday (April 15) night has created intense anxiety among the launch passengers and authorities.

According to sources from the launch authorities and passengers, the MV Bandhan-5 launch left the Kalaiya port ghat in Bauphal for Dhaka at around 4 pm on Wednesday. When the launch anchored at Dhulia ghat around 7:30 pm, a man boarded the launch with the baby girl in his lap. He introduced himself as the child’s father and sat on a seat.

After a while, he told the passengers nearby that the child’s mother was coming. He left the child in the custody of other passengers after promising to bring his wife and got off the launch. But even after the launch left Dhulia Ghat, the person or the child's mother did not return. When the child started crying after a long time, the passengers became suspicious and informed the launch authorities.

The child is currently being kept in the shelter of some female passengers. In this regard, MV Bandhan-5 launch supervisor Md. Sajal said, "It is not known why or for what reason the person left the child. The child is safe. With the help of the passengers, his family is being searched for."

Meanwhile, when the news spread, the police started an investigation. Inspector in-charge of Kalaiya Port Police Outpost Md. Al Mamun said, "We came to know about the matter through social media. The incident is being investigated seriously."

The launch authorities said that after the launch reached Dhaka Sadarghat on Thursday morning, the child was handed over to the custody of Sadarghat Kotwali Police Station to ensure his safety. So far, no trace of the child's real identity or her family has been found. The police are trying to find the child's relatives.