RAB finds missing baby

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have found the new-born baby that had gone missing from a Dhaka hospital a week ago.

Two women have been arrested in connection with the theft.

RAB's Additional Director General Col. Ziaul Ahsan told bdnews24.com that the baby was found with one Belly Aktar, alias Rahima, 45, at Gazipur's Boardbazar Upazila around 3am Thursday.

"Rahima says one Rasheda Khanam Parvin, a midwife, stole the baby from the hospital. She got it for her in exchange of Tk 40,000", he said.

Both Rahima and Parvin are now in RAB's custody.

On Aug 20, Runa Akter gave birth to twin babies at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. One of the baby boys went missing the next day from the hospital.

According to Akter's mother Gul-e-Nur Begum, a woman was seen loitering around them as soon as the babies were brought back to the hospital ward. When questioned, she said that her sister-in-law, too, had been admitted.

The next day, the woman offered help to calm one of the crying babies and fled with the newborn, said Begum.

Picture shows Parvin with the missing baby on Aug 20, the day before the theft. Picture taken from CCTV footage of the hospital aired on Somoy TV.

The incident caused quite a furore that made the hospital authorities order an inquiry. A police case was also lodged.

According to a media report, none of the 53 CCTV cameras at the hospital operated at the time of the theft.

The server that manages the CCTV network was shut for 12 hours since 9pm on Aug 20, while the baby went missing around 7.30 am the next day, the report said.

The High Court, which took cognisance of the report run by the Daily Star, had also ordered a judicial probe into the incident.

Col. Ahsan told bdnews24.com that Parvin, being a midwife, was well acquainted with the atmosphere of the DMCH and it was easy for her to get away with the baby from the hospital.

The baby was handed to Rahima outside the DMCH before she returned to her Gazipur home on Aug 21, said the RAB official.