Woman detained in Khagrachhari for ‘smothering’ child with pillow

A doctor was called to the home after the boy was said to be gravely ill, but found him already dead

Police in Khagrachhari have detained a woman accused of killing her 2-year-old son by smothering him with a pillow.

The incident took place around 3am on Saturday at Shantinagar of Khagrachhari Sadar Upazila, Khagrachhari Police chief Md Abdul Baten Mridha said.

The victim, Mohammad Tahidul Alam Avan, was the son of Mostafizur Rahman, an employee of a pharmaceutical company. Mostafizur lived in a rented house in the area with his wife Sabina Yasmin, their son and a 4-year-old daughter.

Mostafizur said he had travelled to Panchhari for work on Thursday and stayed there overnight.

“Around 3am, I received a call on my mobile phone that my son had been killed,” he said.

According to police, Sabina smothered her sleeping son during the night. Later, she told neighbours the child was gravely ill and brought a doctor to the house. The doctor found the boy already dead and, noticing Sabina’s incoherent behaviour, informed the police.

Officers recovered the body and sent it to Khagrachhari District Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Officer Baten added that relatives had said Sabina had been mentally unstable for some time.

“We have detained her and brought her to the station. Legal action is being prepared,” he said.