A two-year-old boy named Morshed has tragically passed away after being abandoned alongside his sister on a desolate roadside in Anwara, Chittagong. The toddler died at approximately 2:30 pm on Monday, 5 January, while undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. His death follows several days of specialist medical intervention directed by the District Magistrate and the Civil Surgeon, who had hoped to reverse the effects of prolonged exposure to the winter chill.
The children’s grandmother, 65-year-old Parveen Akhter, was present at the hospital when the boy succumbed to his condition. According to Safayet Rayhan, a volunteer with the Swapnajatri Foundation who assisted the family, the child’s background is marred by domestic instability. The father, Khorshed Alam, is currently incarcerated, while the mother remains missing. Plans are now being finalised to transport the young boy’s body to the family’s ancestral village in Manikchhari, Khagrachhari, for a traditional burial.
The siblings were originally discovered on the night of 28 December by a compassionate CNG driver named Mahim, who found them huddled by the PAB Road. The discovery sparked a significant humanitarian response from the local administration, which immediately took responsibility for the children’s welfare. Subsequent police investigations led to the arrest of the father in Banshkhali on Wednesday night. Authorities revealed that the children had been left on the street following a severe domestic altercation, a revelation that has caused widespread public indignation.
Timeline and Participant Summary
| Milestone | Details and Status |
| Discovery | 28 December; found by roadside in Anwara |
| Medical Treatment | Admitted to CMCH ICU under civil surgeon’s care |
| Fate of Morshed | Pronounced dead on 5 January at 2:30 pm |
| Father’s Position | Khorshed Alam; currently in judicial custody |
| Mother’s Position | Status unknown; whereabouts untraced |
| Sister’s Future | Awaiting decision on grandmother’s custody |
Tahmina Akter, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, confirmed that the state is monitoring the welfare of the surviving sister. While the grandmother has expressed an interest in taking the girl back to Khagrachhari, the administration is carefully weighing this against the need for a stable and protective environment. If the family home is deemed unsuitable given the father’s imprisonment and the mother’s absence, alternative state-run care may be sought. This tragic case serves as a somber reminder of the lethal risks posed to the vulnerable when domestic disputes intersect with extreme seasonal weather.