Bangladesh Court Sentences Mother to 13 Years for Killing Infant Son

A court in Tangail on Monday sentenced a woman to 13 years in prison after finding her guilty of killing her 18-day-old son and attempting to conceal the crime.

Tangail District and Sessions Judge Md. Hafizur Rahman delivered the verdict.

The convicted woman, Ayna Begum, 24, is the wife of Md. Zahirul Islam of Shibpur Chandanpara village in Mirzapur Upazila and the daughter of Aminul Islam of Lauhati Madhyapara village in Delduar Upazila.

According to Tangail Public Prosecutor Shafiqul Islam Ripon, the incident occurred on Aug. 30, 2020, while Ayna Begum was staying at her parents' home following the birth of her child.

Her husband, Zahirul Islam, was informed that their 18-day-old son, Raihan, had gone missing. After arriving at his in-laws' home and searching the area, he found the infant's body in a canal near the house.

Police recovered the body and sent it to the hospital for an autopsy. The post-mortem examination concluded that the infant had died from suffocation, prosecutors said.

Zahirul Islam later filed a murder case against his wife at Delduar Police Station.

Following the investigation, Sub-Inspector Monowar Hossain submitted the charge sheet to the court. The trial began on Dec. 15, 2020, after formal charges were framed.

The court delivered its verdict after hearing testimony from nine prosecution witnesses.

The court also imposed a fine of 40,000 Bangladeshi taka. If the fine is not paid, she will serve an additional six months of simple imprisonment.

Following the verdict, Ayna Begum was taken into custody and sent to jail.