Mother Arrested Over Infant Son’s Death in Jamalpur

Police in the Melandaha upazila of Jamalpur have arrested a woman on suspicion of killing her nine-month-old son, following a disturbing incident that has drawn widespread attention in the local community.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning in the Bhavki Goalbari area. According to police and local accounts, the child’s parents, Humayun Kabir, aged 25, and Srabonti Akter, aged 20, had been living with their only child, Shaon, who was just nine months old.

Family members said that on Saturday night, the infant was fed dinner and later fell asleep as usual. However, when the father woke up the following morning, he reportedly found both the front and rear doors of the house open. His wife and the baby were missing from the bed, prompting immediate concern and a search of the surrounding area.

As the search intensified, a relative reportedly spotted the child floating in a nearby pond in the Beparipara area. Srabonti Akter was also found nearby. The infant was recovered in an unresponsive state, and family members confirmed that he was already dead. In the aftermath, local relatives allegedly restrained the mother by tying her to an electric pole near the house before police intervention.

Srabonti Akter has disputed the allegations, offering a different account of the night’s events. She claimed that around 3:30 am, an unidentified man knocked on the door. When she opened it, she alleged that a masked individual placed a cloth over her face, rendering her unconscious, before transporting her by auto-rickshaw to the Bhavki Bazar area. She further stated that she regained partial consciousness later, after which she was confronted and restrained by her in-laws.

Her husband, however, rejected her version of events and alleged a history of domestic instability. He claimed that she had previously left home on several occasions and maintained communication with multiple individuals over the phone. He also alleged that disputes had occurred in the past and that informal community arbitration had been held. He firmly accused her of being responsible for the child’s death.

Police confirmed that officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after receiving reports of the incident. The accused woman was taken into custody for questioning. Authorities have also initiated preparations to send the child’s body for post-mortem examination, which is expected to play a crucial role in determining the cause of death.

Melandaha Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge, Obaidur Rahman, stated that legal proceedings are underway and that the investigation remains active. He added that further action will depend on the findings of the post-mortem report and ongoing inquiries.