Father kills baby for dowry

A 27-day-old baby girl, thrown to the ground allegedly by her father on Sunday, succumbed to her injuries at Jamalpur General Hospital early yesterday.

The baby's father, Lablu Miah committed the brutal act at his house at Kulurchar village in Sherpur Sadar upazila as his wife Rahila Begum failed to bring money from her father.

  Lablu, son of Abdur Rahim of Krishnapur village in Jamalpur's Sarishabari upazila, married Rahila, daughter of Rasul Miah of Muslemabad in Jamalpur town, nine years ago.

Rasul's elder daughter Jesmin said her father gave construction worker Lablu Tk 25,000 as dowry during the marriage.

Lablu put pressure on Rahila on Saturday to bring Tk 10,000 from her father, triggering a quarrel between the couple at their newly built house at Kulurchar village in Sherpur Sadar upazila near Jamalpur town.

At one stage of quarrel, Lablu snatched the baby girl from her mother's lap and threatened Rahila that he would hurt the baby if she did not meet his demand, said Jesmin.

On Sunday morning, the tormented mother rushed to her parents' house to collect the money, but failed, Jesmin said.

“Rahila and I returned to her husband's house and tried our best to pacify Lablu and requested him to return the baby to her mother so that she could feed her,” Jesmin said.

Rejecting the request, Lablu threw the baby to the ground, picked her up and then threw her down again, leaving her critically injured, she said.

Lablu went into hiding after the incident, said Jesmin.

The baby was admitted to Jamalpur General Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital after fighting for life for 19 hours, a source at the hospital said.

Sherpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam said they have got an allegation about the murder of the baby girl by her father.

“We will take legal action against the father if he is involved in the killing,” the OC added.