Three individuals, including the director of a clinic, have been arrested in connection with the sale of a newborn, taking advantage of the vulnerability of a pregnant woman in Rangpur.
Deputy Police Commissioner Abu Maruf Hossain of the Rangpur Metropolitan Police provided this information during a press conference on Sunday.
Laboni Begum, a financially disadvantaged woman from the Bhurarghat area of Rangpur, was admitted with labour pains to Holy Current Hospital near the central bus terminal of the city on January 13. She gave birth to a baby boy through a Caesarean section that night.
Laboni said after the childbirth, the clinic authorities demanded Tk50,000 for the surgery. Unable to afford the amount, Laboni’s husband Wasim secretly contacted the clinic authorities and sold their child for Tk40,000.
Subsequently, Laboni filed a written complaint with the police, leading to the rescue of the child, who was returned to her.
Despite Laboni's pleas, the hospital director, MS Rahman Roni, allegedly sold the newborn to his acquaintances, Zerina Akhter Bithi and Rubel Hossain Ratan, for Tk40,000 under the pretext of settling the clinic bill.
Following the filing of a case, three individuals were arrested in the Pirzabad area of the city on Sunday night.
The deputy police commissioner mentioned that Wasim, Labani Begum's husband, involved in the incident, has been absconding since the incident, and efforts are underway to arrest him.
