Madaripur court orders transfer of newborn found by highway to state care facility

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A Madaripur court has ordered the transfer of a newborn baby girl to a government-run shelter in Barishal, following her precarious birth on the side of the Dhaka-Barishal highway. Senior Judicial Magistrate Nusrat Khanam issued the directive on Monday, prioritizing the infant’s long-term safety and welfare.

The baby was born last Friday morning near a bridge at the Bhurghata bus stand in Kalkini, where her 35-year-old mother—a woman known locally as Johura Begum who suffers from severe mental health challenges—had sought refuge. Local residents discovered the pair shortly after the birth and alerted the Kalkini Upazila administration, who promptly transferred both the mother and child to the Kalkini Upazila Health Complex.

According to Rashedul Islam, a representative from the Kalkini Upazila Social Services Office, the court’s decision was rooted in the finding that the mother lacks the mental capacity required to provide adequate care and protection for an infant. Officials noted that the child faced significant risks if left in her mother’s immediate custody. Consequently, the court ordered the newborn to be placed in the Chhotomoni Nibash in Agailjhara, Barishal, a facility managed by the Department of Social Services. The mother, meanwhile, has been released into the care of her own family.

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Authorities have indicated that the child is now under the protection of the state. While several members of the public have already expressed interest in adopting the infant, officials clarified that any formal requests must be directed through the proper legal channels at the Chhotomoni Nibash.

Local residents and police described the mother as a familiar figure who had been wandering through the Kalkini municipal area for some time. Following the emergency intervention on Friday, local administration officials, including Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Saif-ul-Arefin, emphasized that securing the baby’s future was the primary objective of the state’s involvement. The infant is now expected to receive professional care and support at the government facility.