Police have recovered the bodies of two newborn babies from a pile of rubbish in Barishal city, sparking shock and anger among local residents. The bodies had reportedly been left in a waste heap in front of the Forest Office in the city’s Natun Bazar area.
The discovery was made at around 11pm on Tuesday, when Barishal City Corporation sanitation workers were carrying out their routine waste-clearing duties. While removing rubbish from the area, the workers noticed the bodies of the two newborns among the waste. They immediately informed the authorities, following which police arrived at the scene and recovered the bodies.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear. Investigators are examining whether the babies were already dead when they were left at the site or whether they died elsewhere and their bodies were subsequently brought to the rubbish heap.
The bodies have been sent to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal for post-mortem examinations. The examinations are expected to help investigators determine the cause of death and provide other evidence relevant to the inquiry.
Mohammad Al-Mamun Ul Islam, officer-in-charge of Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station, said efforts were under way to establish the identities of the newborns and determine how they died. Police were also working to identify the people responsible for leaving the bodies at the site.
Several police teams have reportedly been involved in the investigation. Officers are examining the circumstances in which the bodies were found and gathering information that could help establish when and where the deaths occurred. However, no definitive conclusion has yet been reached regarding the motive or the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The discovery has caused considerable distress in the Natun Bazar area. The fact that the bodies were found among household waste has intensified concern among residents, who have called for a proper investigation and accountability if anyone is found to have been responsible.
Local resident Rahima Begum expressed her shock at the incident and questioned how anyone could abandon newborn babies in such a manner. Her remarks reflected the anger and sadness felt by people in the area following the discovery.
For investigators, establishing the identities of the babies and determining the precise cause and location of their deaths will be central to the case. The post-mortem findings, along with evidence collected during the police investigation, may help clarify whether the newborns died before being abandoned or whether their deaths occurred under other circumstances.
Police said their investigation was continuing, with efforts focused on identifying those involved and establishing the full sequence of events that led to the bodies being found at the rubbish site.
