Father held for allegedly selling daughter in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA: Police have arrested a man accused of selling his daughter for Tk 31,000 to fund his drug addiction and rescued the child after she had been missing for nearly two months.

The arrested man, Hamidul Mia, was detained from the Sarbazar area of Sadullapur around 9am on Sunday (September 20), police said. He was identified as the prime accused in the incident.

Based on information provided by Hamidul, police later detained two others allegedly involved in the incident. Majid, a bus helper, was arrested from his in-laws’ house in Chhoto Omarpur of Pirganj, Rangpur, around 5:30pm. Another suspect, identified as Morsheda, was detained from Madaner Para in Fulchhari, Gaibandha.

The child, Fatema, was subsequently rescued from the house of Soleman Chowkidar in the Chhales Mor area of Madaner Para.

The child’s mother, Rumana Akter, said Hamidul came to her parents’ house in South Dhanghara of Gaibandha municipality on July 17. He took Fatema outside in his arms, saying he would buy her some juice, but did not return.

Two days later, Hamidul allegedly called Rumana and demanded Tk 10,000 in exchange for returning the child, threatening to sell her if the money was not paid. The family later learned that the child had allegedly been sold for Tk 31,000.

During the child’s disappearance, Rumana approached both the police and court, saying she wanted nothing except the safe return of her daughter.

Family members said Hamidul had allegedly subjected Rumana to physical abuse over money for drugs since shortly after their marriage in July 2024. The abuse reportedly increased after the birth of their daughter, prompting Rumana to move to her parents’ home with the child.

Relatives and local residents alleged that Hamidul sold his daughter to arrange money for drugs.

Police said legal action would be taken against those involved in the incident.