Couple Arrested After Newborn Stolen in Hospital Disguise

A couple have been arrested after allegedly stealing a newborn baby from Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex in Gaibandha by posing as a mother who had just given birth. Local people and hospital security personnel caught the pair while they were attempting to flee with the child.

The incident occurred at the health complex on Monday (10 August) afternoon. The newborn was subsequently rescued and returned safely to his family.

According to relatives, Rupali Begum, wife of Jahidul Islam of Somspara village in Taluk Kanupur Union, had been admitted to the hospital earlier that morning for childbirth. She later gave birth to a baby boy while receiving treatment at the facility.

After the delivery, the newborn’s grandmother, Joygun Bewa, was carrying the baby around the ward. At that time, Shifali Begum, who was staying in a nearby bed, allegedly approached her and expressed a desire to hold the child. She was reportedly posing as a recently delivered mother.

Trusting her, Joygun handed the baby to Shifali. After holding the child for some time, Shifali allegedly took advantage of the situation and left the ward with her husband, Sirajul Islam. The couple reportedly attempted to leave the hospital building with the newborn.

When Joygun returned and realised that the baby was missing, she raised the alarm. Her cries drew the attention of people nearby and hospital security personnel, who immediately went downstairs and began chasing the couple.

The pursuit ended with Shifali and Sirajul being caught while they still had the baby with them. The child was rescued unharmed and handed back to the family. However, several other alleged members of the group managed to escape from the scene.

Police later arrived at the hospital and questioned the arrested couple. Investigators were reportedly told that the pair were connected to a child-trafficking group. Police also discovered that Shifali had tied pieces of cloth around her abdomen and waist to create the appearance of being pregnant or recently having given birth.

The incident has raised concerns over security around newborns and vulnerable mothers in healthcare facilities. New mothers and their relatives can be particularly vulnerable immediately after childbirth, making close monitoring of visitors and unfamiliar individuals inside maternity wards an important safeguard against such incidents.

On Tuesday (11 August), Abdul Razzaq, a cousin of the newborn’s mother, filed a case with Gobindaganj Police Station in connection with the incident.

Acting officer-in-charge of Gobindaganj Police Station, Swapan Kumar, confirmed that a case had been filed. He said police would conduct further operations to identify and arrest others allegedly involved in the incident.

The arrested couple, Sirajul Islam, son of the late Bhola Mia of Phasitola village in Gobindaganj, and his wife Shifali Begum, were subsequently handed over to the police. The investigation is expected to focus on the alleged trafficking network and whether other people were involved in planning or carrying out the attempted abduction.