Newborn rescued in Cumilla after mother’s abduction claim found false

A 27-day-old baby girl was rescued in Cumilla's Debidwar after her mother allegedly gave her to a childless couple for money and subsequently reported the child as abducted, police said.

The infant was recovered today (28 February) from the family that had taken her in, police said.

Md Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Debidwar Police Station said police had been suspicious about the alleged abduction from the beginning.

"The kidnapping claim appeared doubtful from the outset. Aklima's behaviour and statements raised our suspicion. The truth has now come out. The newborn has finally been returned to her mother's arms," he said.

On Thursday afternoon (26 February), the child's mother, Aklima Akter, told relatives that her daughter had been abducted from the Debidwar Upazila Health Complex area. Aklima is the wife of battery-run auto-rickshaw driver Kamal Hossain of Binaipara village under Debidwar municipality. The couple have two other children aged eight and six.

Locals found Aklima lying unconscious near Saber Bazar in the Moynamati area along the Cumilla-Sylhet highway and informed police.

She was rescued and handed over to her family, but the child could not be traced at the time. Later that night, Aklima's husband filed a case with Debidwar Police Station against two to three unidentified persons over the alleged abduction.

However, Abu Sayeed, who had taken the baby, said he was embarrassed after seeing reports of the alleged kidnapping on social media. He claimed that Aklima had voluntarily given him the child.

"On Thursday, Aklima came to Al Madina Hospital in Debidwar town and handed the infant over to me in the presence of doctors and nurses. The condition was that she would return the next day with her husband to sign the agreement papers and receive the money," he said.

Abu Sayeed added that he has been married for 17 years but has not been able to become a father. "Our family was filled with joy after receiving the child. On Friday afternoon, we bought clothes and other necessary items worth around Tk15,000," he said.

Rahima Akter, a nurse at Al Madina Hospital, said Aklima had expressed her desire to give the infant up for adoption, citing her husband's alleged drug addiction and financial hardship. She reportedly said that raising three children was difficult amid poverty. Through acquaintances, she was introduced to Abu Sayeed.

Dr Firoz Ahmed, medical officer at the hospital, said the woman had approached him for three consecutive days about giving the baby up for adoption.

"I clearly told her that she must bring her husband and complete the necessary paperwork in accordance with the rules," he said.