She sold newborn to pay hospital bills

A helpless mother sold her newborn child as she could not pay the hospital bill. The incident took place at Hanirpar village in Matlab Uttar upazila of Chandpur recently. The mother who lost her child is now almost mad. The helpless woman's name is Tamanna Begum (28).

It is learned that she got married to Alam, son of Tayyab Ali of Hanirpar village of the upazila 5 years ago. They live in a rented house as the in-laws do not accept it. Tamanna Begum is a mother of two. The husband does not take care of them properly. When it was time for the delivery of the third child, the husband could not raise money and left. He did not even come home after turning off the phone for a few days. When Tamanna Begum's labor pains arose, her mother and relatives rushed her to the local Pulse Aid Hospital and Diagnostic Center. Tamanna's face was not seen even though she was admitted to the hospital on loan and gave birth to a child.

After giving birth to a baby boy through a caesarean section at the hospital, she sold his baby for Tk 50,000 as she could not pay the hospital bill in the end. She also said that her husband Alam was pressuring her to come home and return her child.

Helpless Tamanna Begum said, `Money was demanded immediately after the operation in that hospital. Where do I give money to poor people? Another person gave me free blood but the blood bill at the hospital was two thousand rupees. In all, the operation costs around Rs 40,000 with medicines and accessories. I did not give birth to any child. I decided to sell the child when I could not afford the hospital bill and my own medical expenses. Earlier, Kauser wanted to know if I would sell a child. Later I talked to someone in the hospital and sold the child for 50 thousand rupees. But now my husband is pushing for her to have children. If not, he is threatening not to marry me. Even though I sold the child for money then, now it is difficult for my child. I want my child back’.'

Limon Sarkar, a spokesman for the hospital's owner, said: `We are not aware of the sale of the baby. When he came to cut the stitches for the operation two days ago, when we asked her how his baby was, she said he was fine’.

Matlab Uttar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Gazi Shariful Hasan said, `So far no one has complained to us about this. Necessary steps will be taken after knowing the details about this’.