Father of Two Children Found After Roadside Rescue in Chattogram

The mystery surrounding two young children found shivering by a roadside in Chattogram’s Anwara upazila has taken a hopeful turn, as authorities have now traced their father. On Wednesday afternoon, the man met officials from the local administration and police, formally identifying himself as the children’s father and confirming their identities. The development has brought cautious relief to officials and local residents who had been deeply moved by the incident.

According to police and administrative sources, the children were discovered during a bitterly cold evening earlier this week. Their plight first came to public attention after they were rescued from the roadside in Anwara, prompting widespread concern and swift intervention by the authorities. The father, whose permanent home is in Manikchhari upazila of Khagrachhari district, had been living in Chattogram’s Banshkhali area, where he earns a living as a rickshaw puller in the Miarbazar locality.

Speaking to officials, the father claimed that his wife had left home approximately six months ago, taking their two children with her without informing him. Despite repeated attempts, he said he was unable to trace them. It was only after seeing photographs of the rescued children circulating on Facebook that he recognised them and realised they were his own. He then immediately contacted the authorities and travelled to Anwara to meet the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Anwara Police Station.

The children were originally rescued on Sunday evening from the Mazargate area of Barkhain Union in Anwara upazila. The girl is four years old, while the boy is only two. At the time, both were exposed to the cold and appeared vulnerable and distressed. They were first taken into the care of Mahim Uddin, a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver, who sheltered them temporarily and ensured their immediate safety. His act of compassion was widely praised after the story became public.

Once the matter was reported, the Anwara upazila administration assumed formal custody of the children. On Tuesday afternoon, UNO Tahmina Akter took the children to meet the Chattogram Deputy Commissioner, who assured full responsibility for their medical treatment and daily expenses. Subsequently, the girl was placed temporarily in the care of the rescuer, Mahim Uddin, while the boy—who was in a more serious physical condition—was admitted to hospital for treatment.

The issue has also drawn judicial attention. Following the publication of a news report titled “Two children found sitting by the roadside in biting cold, rescued by an auto-rickshaw driver”, a local court took suo motu cognisance of the matter. The court, presided over by Executive Magistrate Md Shakhawat Hossain, instructed Anwara Police Station to file a case and ordered a written report by 5 January detailing the measures taken under the Children Act 2013.

Confirming the court’s directive, Anwara Police Station OC Md Junayet Chowdhury stated that the authorities are now reviewing the father’s claims and background. “The court has asked for a detailed account of the steps taken to ensure the children’s safety and welfare. We have located their father and will take necessary action after further verification,” he said.

The case has sparked broader discussion about child protection, parental responsibility, and the role of community vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable children.

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