Patuakhali: A carpenter identified as Md Maruf from Boro Gopaldi village in Dashmina upazila of Patuakhali has been accused of selling his 18-month-old son, Musa, for Tk 1 lakh to buy an iPhone. This incident reportedly occurred on a Saturday morning, leaving the community in shock and disbelief.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the incident unfolded when Maruf, the son of Mofiz Munshi, allegedly took Musa from their home under the pretense of visiting the market. When both father and son failed to return, the family grew concerned and began searching for them. During the investigation, it was revealed that Maruf initially withheld information regarding the whereabouts of his child.
Family members, upon questioning Maruf's maternal uncle Bahadur Mia, discovered that Maruf had confessed to selling Musa to a man named Imran Hossain from Romanathsen village in exchange for Tk 1 lakh. It is alleged that Maruf used the money to travel to Dhaka and purchase a new iPhone, exchanging his old one in the process.
Mahfuza Begum, Musa's grandmother, recounted the events leading up to the disappearance. She mentioned Maruf's request to dress Musa for an outing, which was the last time she saw them together. The family was taken aback by Maruf's admission and is now seeking assistance from authorities to reunite with the child.
Imran Hossain, accused of purchasing the child, reportedly stated that Maruf had been contemplating giving away his son for a while. Imran claimed that an agreement was made with Maruf, exchanging the child for Tk 1 lakh, and subsequently, the child was handed over to his father-in-law's family.
Local residents expressed their concern over the incident, emphasizing that Maruf and his wife had experienced marital disputes in the past. They urged for the prompt rescue of the child and legal accountability for those involved.
Dashmina Police Station's Officer-in-Charge, Md Atiqul Islam, confirmed ongoing efforts by the police to locate and rescue the child, with further legal actions planned in response to the incident.