Father tries to sell child for drugs, rescued after 999 call

A man in Chattogram has been accused of taking his 20-month-old daughter away with the intention of selling her to fund his drug habit. Police rescued the child within about two hours after receiving a phone call on the national emergency service 999.

The incident took place around 10:30pm on Saturday in the Paschim Madarbari area of Sadarghat Police Station in the city. Later, police rescued the child from the Jogi Chand Mosque Lane area of Paschim Madarbari. She was subsequently handed over to her mother, Seema.

Sadarghat Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Ekram Ullah said a woman named Seema (26) called 999 and complained that her husband, Lokman Hossain Sagar (27), had forcibly taken their 20-month-old daughter from home with the intention of selling her. She also alleged that her husband is a drug addict.

Police said Seema and Lokman live at Bachchu Mia's house in the Pani Tanki area of Sadarghat Police Station. On Saturday night, Lokman allegedly left the house with their daughter, Fatema Akter, intending to sell her to fund his drug habit, his wife complained.

After receiving the complaint, police launched an operation to rescue the child. After about two hours, the child was rescued from the Jogi Chand Mosque Lane area of Paschim Madarbari. She was later handed over to her mother.

OC Mohammad Ekram Ullah said legal action over the incident is underway.