Tragic Death of Toddler Abandoned in Bitter Cold

The harrowing ordeal of two siblings discovered abandoned by a roadside in Anwara, Chittagong, has culminated in tragedy following the death of two-year-old Morshed. The toddler passed away at approximately 2:30 pm on Monday, 5 January, while receiving intensive care at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Despite the concerted efforts of medical professionals and the direct intervention of the district administration, the young boy succumbed to the severe health complications he developed after being left exposed to the elements during a period of biting winter temperatures.

Safayet Rayhan, a representative of the Swapnajatri Foundation who has been monitoring the case at the hospital, confirmed that Morshed had been under the specialised supervision of the Chittagong Civil Surgeon. The child’s grandmother, Parveen Akhter, 65, remains at the hospital to oversee the final arrangements. The family’s circumstances are particularly dire; the children’s father is currently in police custody, while their mother’s whereabouts remain unknown. The grandmother has indicated that the toddler’s remains will be transported to their ancestral home in the Manikchhari Upazila of Khagrachhari for burial.

The tragic sequence of events began on the night of 28 December, when a CNG auto-rickshaw driver named Mahim spotted the two helpless siblings on the side of the PAB Road. Recognising the immediate danger to their lives, he rescued them and alerted the authorities. The local administration subsequently took custody of the children, moving them to a medical facility as the story sparked a wave of public sympathy. Investigations later led to the arrest of the father, Khorshed Alam, in Banshkhali. During police interrogation, he reportedly confessed that the children were abandoned as a direct result of a volatile domestic dispute.

Case Overview and Family Status

Tahmina Akter, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), confirmed the toddler’s passing and noted that administrative support is being provided for the repatriation of the body. Regarding the surviving sister, the UNO stated that a decision is yet to be finalised; if the grandmother expresses a desire to take her, she may be permitted to do so, provided the home environment is deemed safe. Otherwise, the state will look into alternative care arrangements to ensure the girl does not face further neglect. This heart-wrenching incident has highlighted the extreme vulnerability of children caught in the crossfire of familial conflict and the deadly impact of the winter cold on the homeless.