Mother sued over killing child in Noakhali

NOAKHALI, Aug 18: Police have arrested a woman and filed a murder case against her after her 14-day-old newborn was found dead in a plastic drum used to collect rainwater, authorities said on Tuesday.

Sourav Hossain, the child’s father, filed the case with Begumganj Police Station (PS), accusing his wife Fatema Begum, 19, daughter of Sharif Ulla of Narottampur Union in Begumganj Upazila of the district.

The incident occurred on Monday evening at a house near Mazumdarhat in Ward No. 4 of Mirwarishpur Union. The child disappeared from the house, and family members later found the body in a rainwater storage drum at about 10 pm, police said.

Fatema married Sourav in November 2025, and the couple had been experiencing marital problems, according to local residents. After the child disappeared, Fatema initially told family members that an unidentified person had taken him. Her changing accounts raised suspicion, locals said.

Officer-in-Charge of the PS Shamsuzzaman said Fatema confessed during questioning to throwing the baby into the water-filled drum. “The newborn was crying excessively and would not let her sleep,” he said.