Father Accused of Selling Toddler for iPhone in Patuakhali
A father in Bangladesh has been accused of handing over his 1.5-year-old son in exchange for money to purchase an iPhone. Local police have launched an operation to rescue the toddler and bring the father back from Dhaka.
An alarming allegation has emerged from Dashmina upazila in Patuakhali, where a father is accused of giving away his 1.5-year-old son in exchange for one lakh taka to buy an iPhone. The incident involves the young child, Musa, and his father, Md. Maruf, who works as a woodcutter by profession. The events took place within the jurisdiction of Dashmina Police Station, centering around the Mashuakhali village located in the Betagie-Sankipur union of Dashmina upazila, Patuakhali.
According to the confirmed details of the case, the child was left in the custody of Imran Hossain, a resident of Romanathsen village situated in the Alipur union of Dashmina. The arrangement has sparked widespread concern and immediate intervention from local law enforcement agencies, who have mobilized resources to address the situation in the Patuakhali region.
The grandmother of the child, Mahfuza Begum, provided a detailed account of how the situation unfolded on a Saturday morning. She stated that Md. Maruf had asked her to dress the grandchild in new clothes, explaining that he intended to take Musa to the local market. However, after a considerable amount of time passed without their return, she began searching for them and eventually discovered that the grandson had been handed over to another person in exchange for money, which was reportedly used to purchase an iPhone. She expressed her deep anguish, stating that she desperately wants her grandson back.
In response to the developing situation, Md. Atikul Islam of the local police addressed the ongoing investigation and recovery efforts. He stated that operations are actively underway to rescue the infant from the individual where the child's father left him. Furthermore, law enforcement personnel are making concerted efforts to transport the child's father back from Dhaka to assist with the inquiry.
Authorities have also noted that the financial aspects of the transaction are still under careful examination. Md. Atikul Islam explained that it is not yet entirely certain whether a formal financial transaction actually took place, noting that the relationship between the child's father and mother has not been good. The Dashmina Police Station continues to investigate all dimensions of the case as the rescue operation proceeds.
