Woman trying to 'steal' newborn detained

A woman was detained while allegedly trying to steal a two-day old baby from Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday.

The arrestee was identified as Sonia Akter Sumi, 28.

Hospital sources said, Josna Begum, 35, from Rangpur was admitted to DMCH two days ago and she gave birth to a baby boy on Tuesday.

Yesterday around 2pm, Sonia went to the hospital to visit Josna, and tried to take the newborn away with her at an opportune moment around 8pm, Sub-inspector Bachchu Mia, also in-charge of DMCH Police Outpost, told The Daily Star.

Two nurses and guards, upon suspicion, stopped Sonia on her way out of the hospital with the baby and handed her over to Shahbagh police, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station Abul Hasan.

Upon primary interrogation, Sonia told police that Josna promised her the baby in exchange of Tk 50,000 around six months back, and she had paid Tk 3,000 in advance. But now, since Josna was refusing to give up the baby, she tried to take him away, Sonia claimed.

“We are investigating into the incident,” the OC added.