Toddler rescued in Patuakhali after alleged sale for 1 lakh taka

A 1.5-year-old child, who was allegedly sold by his father to another person for 1 lakh taka in Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali, was rescued on Sunday night.

The toddler was rescued from a house in Romanathsen village of Alipur Union through a joint effort by the upazila administration and police, said Md Atiqul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dashmina Police Station.

In the presence of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Mahmud Hasan Mridha, the child was handed over to his grandparents, Mofiz Munshi and Mahfuza Begum.

Authorities also recovered a written agreement made on a 100 taka non-judicial stamp regarding the exchange of money.

The accused father, Md Maruf of Boro Gopaldi village under Betagi-Sankipur Union, said he did receive money after handing over his son to another person, UNB reported as saying.

However, Maruf claimed that the child had been given up for adoption, not sold.

Earlier on Saturday morning, Maruf asked his mother to get Musa dressed at around 8am before leaving home with the child, saying he was taking him to the market.

When Maruf and Musa did not return for a long time, family members began searching for them in different places.

At one point, the family contacted Maruf's maternal uncle, Bahadur Mia. According to the family, Maruf initially did not disclose what had happened to the child when questioned.

Later, the family said, Maruf confessed that he had sold Musa to Imran Hossain of Romanathsen village under Alipur Union of Dashmina upazila.