Man sells 11-month-old daughter for drugs, rescued after 2 months

A man in Gaibandha has been accused of selling his 11-month-old daughter to fund his drug habit. About two months after the incident, the child was rescued in an operation by the Detective Branch (DB) police. Police arrested four people, including the child's father and two women, in the incident.

The child was rescued from the house of Soleman Chowkidar in Madonerpara village of Fulchhari upazila in Gaibandha on Sunday night, September 20. After a press conference on Monday, DB police handed over the rescued child, Jannat, to her mother, Romana Akter.

Police said Hamidul Islam, a resident of South Dhanghara village in Gaibandha municipal area, is a drug addict. On July 22, he took his 11-month-old daughter Jannat from home saying he would buy her biscuits. As he did not bring the child back home afterwards, her mother, Romana Akter, kept searching in various places.

Failing to find the child, Romana eventually approached the court to rescue her daughter. On August 14, Judge Nishat Tajneen of the Gaibandha court took the matter into cognisance and directed Gaibandha Sadar Police Station to rescue the child.

After receiving the court's order, DB police began an investigation to find the child. Based on various information, Jannat was rescued from Soleman Chowkidar's house in an operation in the Madonerpara area of Fulchhari on Sunday night. In this incident, the child's father Hamidul Islam, Abdul Majid, Morsheda Khatun and Jesmin Akter were arrested.

Romana Akter became emotional after getting her daughter back. She said she no longer wants such a husband and wants exemplary punishment for him. At the same time, alleging threats from her husband, she sought the administration's cooperation for her and her child's safety.

Gaibandha Additional Superintendent of Police Md Sharif Al Rajib said the child was rescued after searching various places following the court's order. The four arrested in the incident were sent to court on Monday noon. The child has been returned to her mother.