Dogs fought over an 'abandoned baby' in Dhaka's Shaheed Minar area. The newborn later died in a hospital

Police rushed the baby, which was wrapped in cloth inside a polythene bag, to a hospital, but could not save them

Police have recovered a day-old baby wrapped in cloth inside a polythene bag on the footpath in front of the Central Shaheed Minar on the Dhaka University campus.

The baby, found in an unconscious state, was rushed to the Emergency Department at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 11am on Saturday, where a doctor declared them dead.

“Dogs were fighting over the newborn, which was wrapped in cloth inside a polythene bag,” said Sub Inspector Mohidul Islam from Shahbagh Police Station. “The newborn was recovered from inside the bag in an unconscious state when locals reported it to us.”

The body has been taken to the DMCH morgue for an autopsy, he said.

“We believe someone abandoned the newborn after they were born. We are working to uncover additional details.”