Mother held after 20-month-old found with throat slit in Sylhet

A 20-month-old child was found with her throat slit after her father returned from Fajr prayers at their home in the Kalaruka village of Sylhet Sadar upazila on Friday morning, May 22. The mother has been detained by police.

The child has been identified as Maimuna Jannat Toha. Her mother, Subina Begum, 25, has been taken into custody.

The father, Amir Ali, told police that he saw his daughter alive before leaving for Fajr prayers at a nearby mosque. Upon returning, he found her with her throat slit.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (North) Mohammad Saiful Islam confirmed the matter, saying preliminary investigation suggests the mother used a knife to kill her own child.

Locals first detained the mother and later handed her over to police. She has not responded to any police questions.

Police said Subina was reportedly suffering from mental illness and was undergoing treatment.

Amir Ali said his daughter woke up at the time of the Fajr call to prayer. He asked his wife to offer prayers and left for the mosque. After finishing prayers, his younger son informed him that Toha's throat had been slit.

The child's body has been sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Jalalabad Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamsul Habib said a murder case would be filed on the basis of a complaint from the father.