Child Trafficking Syndicate Growing- Sold Child Returns to Mother's Arms After 9 Days in Pirganj

 Pirganj (Thakurgaon) Correspondent:

A child, sold under the guise of adoption, has been reunited with her mother in Pirganj, Thakurgaon. A syndicate of child traffickers sold the baby for a large sum of money, claiming it was for adoption, just 10 minutes after birth. Several men and women are involved in the buying and selling of newborns. After 9 days of being sold, the newborn was finally returned to her biological mother with the help of various individuals.

Recently, an anonymous female victim, who lost her newborn to such a syndicate, complained that last year she went to Saudi Arabia with her husband and three children for livelihood. There, she became pregnant after marrying an expatriate from Cumilla district following an accident. She returned to Bangladesh on June 13 of the current month to give birth. Upon her return as a pregnant woman, she faced severe criticism from her husband, children, and family members. This led her to decide to give the baby up for adoption. On the 21st of this month, she gave birth to a son via C-section at a local clinic. Within 10 minutes of the baby's birth, Anju, Sabina, Sujan, and Manik, members of the newborn selling syndicate, took the baby from the clinic, claiming it was for adoption. Since then, she had no information about her child. Later, when she informed local journalists and conscious individuals, journalists began an investigation. The syndicate members, realizing this, wrote a stamp paper from her and returned the baby.

A reliable local source revealed that Sabina, Anju, Sujan, and Manik, along with two other unknown individuals involved in newborn trafficking, sold the woman's baby to a couple from Bogura district residing in Dhaka for a large sum, claiming it was for adoption.

Regarding this, human rights activist Nahid Parvin Ripa stated that this syndicate primarily exploits the poverty and lack of awareness of distressed families, engaging in crimes like child trafficking. These illicit activities are occurring due to a lack of local administration's vigilance and public awareness campaigns. If this syndicate is not brought to justice immediately, something worse awaits us in the future.

Mujibur Rahman, President of Pirganj Reporters Unity, said that during his investigation into those involved in newborn buying and selling, members of the syndicate repeatedly threatened him. The matter has been reported to the administration.

Zakir Hossain, General Secretary of Bangladesh Mofswal Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) Pirganj Upazila branch, said, "We have been hearing about such a syndicate for a long time. They are secretly involved in important anti-social activities like selling newborns and illegal abortions. The administration should take legal action against the members of this syndicate quickly."

Limon Sarkar, Sports and Literature Editor of Pirganj Press Club, said, "We were working to rescue the child. When the syndicate members realized this, they went to return the child to its mother. When some of us journalists were present, they quickly fled and threatened to break our arms and legs if we wrote about the matter."

When asked about the child, Sabina, a key figure in the syndicate, stated, "I only arranged for blood during the pregnant woman's C-section. I heard that her mother voluntarily gave the baby up for adoption to someone. I don't know anything more than that." Sujan, another member of the syndicate, echoed Sabina's statement.

When contacted, Anju, an employee of Himalaya Diagnostic Center and a key person in the newborn trafficking, became agitated with journalists and said, "You can't do anything to me. I have powerful connections. I will say whatever I have to say in court."

Pirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Tajul Islam said, "I have heard about the matter, and a serious investigation is underway. However, no one has filed a written complaint yet. Strict legal action will be taken if anyone is proven guilty."