Poverty pushes mother to sell her baby
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, Oct 24: A poverty-stricken, helpless mother of Bajubagha village under Bagha Upazila sold her eight-month old daughter to a couple from a neighboring village as she had no other way to get money for the treatment of her elder daughter.
It was learnt that Manjura Khatun (32) was married to Badsha of Gaopara village under Bagha thana fifteen years ago. They had three daughters. Six months ago, Badsha took a second wife and deserted Manjura and their three daughters.
During the last Eid-ul-Fitr, her elder, crippled daughter Moushumi (12) became ill. Later, doctors detected a tumour in her abdomen and asked Manjura to manage at least Tk 15,000 for the operation. After visiting the houses of relatives and fellow villagers she failed to manage the money. As a result, she decided to sell her eight-month daughter Mou to childless couple Maqbul and Sajeda of neighbouring Naotika village.
Manjura Khatun while talking to journalists said in an emotion choked voice that it was want of money for the treatment of her ailing daughter that she had to sell her baby, her youngest, to the childless couple Maqbul and Sajeda.
When contacted, van-puller Maqbul refused to admit they had purchased Mou. Instead, he said Manjura had given Mou to them for adoption. They further said, Allah did not give them any child and earlier they had adopted two children but none of them survived. They hoped to have better luck with Mou. He said they would bring her up as their own daughter.
RAJSHAHI, Oct 24: A poverty-stricken, helpless mother of Bajubagha village under Bagha Upazila sold her eight-month old daughter to a couple from a neighboring village as she had no other way to get money for the treatment of her elder daughter.
It was learnt that Manjura Khatun (32) was married to Badsha of Gaopara village under Bagha thana fifteen years ago. They had three daughters. Six months ago, Badsha took a second wife and deserted Manjura and their three daughters.
During the last Eid-ul-Fitr, her elder, crippled daughter Moushumi (12) became ill. Later, doctors detected a tumour in her abdomen and asked Manjura to manage at least Tk 15,000 for the operation. After visiting the houses of relatives and fellow villagers she failed to manage the money. As a result, she decided to sell her eight-month daughter Mou to childless couple Maqbul and Sajeda of neighbouring Naotika village.
Manjura Khatun while talking to journalists said in an emotion choked voice that it was want of money for the treatment of her ailing daughter that she had to sell her baby, her youngest, to the childless couple Maqbul and Sajeda.
When contacted, van-puller Maqbul refused to admit they had purchased Mou. Instead, he said Manjura had given Mou to them for adoption. They further said, Allah did not give them any child and earlier they had adopted two children but none of them survived. They hoped to have better luck with Mou. He said they would bring her up as their own daughter.