In a deeply distressing incident that has sparked widespread indignation across Patuakhali district, a carpenter stands accused of selling his 18-month-old son to purchase a high-end iPhone. The event took place in the Machhuakhali village of Betagi-Sankipur Union, under Dashmina upazila, leaving the local community in utter shock as law enforcement authorities scramble to rescue the toddler and apprehend the absconding father.
The suspect, identified as Maruf Munshi, a carpenter by profession and the son of Mofiz Munshi, allegedly carried out the plot on the morning of Saturday, 29 August. According to family accounts, Maruf approached his mother, Mahfuza Begum, asking her to dress his 18-month-old son, Musa, under the pretext of taking the child for a brief outing to the local bazaar. When neither returned by evening, anxious relatives mounted a frantic search across the area, only to discover later that the toddler had been handed over to a man in a neighbouring village in exchange for one lakh taka (£650).
Background details provided by the family reveal a turbulent household environment leading up to the incident. Maruf had married his wife, Vristi, a woman from Savar, Dhaka, approximately four years ago. The couple welcomed their son Musa three years into their marriage. However, domestic friction escalated roughly a month ago, resulting in a severe quarrel that prompted Vristi to leave the marital home for her parental residence. Maruf subsequently left for Dhaka, returning home only on the evening of Friday, 28 August, hours before orchestrating the sale of his child.
The victim’s grandmother, Mahfuza Begum, recounted the harrowing morning with profound grief. She explained that Maruf casually asked her to get the child ready for a stroll, promising to return shortly. When the hours dragged on without any news, the family probed further and eventually reached Maruf by telephone. During the call, Maruf reportedly confessed to selling Musa to Imran Hossain, a resident of Ramanathsen village in Alipur Union, through a written agreement. Family members further alleged that Maruf immediately traveled to Dhaka with the proceeds, trading in an older handset to purchase a brand-new iPhone, before going into hiding.
Confirming his involvement, Imran Hossain admitted via a phone interview that he had acquired the toddler in exchange for cash. Imran explained that Maruf had been persistently proposing to hand over the child for some time. Because his father-in-law has five daughters and no male heir, Imran decided to take the boy after consulting with his extended family, formalising the arrangement through a written document for one lakh taka. By Saturday afternoon, Imran had already transferred the toddler to his father-in-law’s home.
The extraordinary case came to light after details began circulating on social media platforms, prompting swift police intervention. Atikul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Dashmina Police Station, confirmed that police personnel visited the scene immediately after being alerted to the online reports. Law enforcement officers have since taken Imran Hossain into police custody for questioning and are conducting active field operations to locate and recover the missing child. Authorities reaffirmed that formal legal proceedings will be initiated against all implicated parties as soon as the child is safely returned.
