Summary:
- A seven-month-old infant named Saoda was sent to prison with her mother Asma in Sreepur, Gazipur, as the child is still nursing and dependent on breast milk.
- Police conducted a raid recovering 500 grams of marijuana, where they arrested Asma while her husband Alam managed to escape from the scene.
- The mother faces multiple drug-related charges, leading to her imprisonment along with her infant, raising concerns about child welfare in the prison system.
- The incident occurred on January 3, 2025, in Sreepur, where law enforcement had to balance criminal justice requirements with the needs of the nursing infant.
A seven-month-old infant, Saoda, has been sent to prison along with her mother Asma following a drug-related arrest in Sreepur, Gazipur. The incident occurred on Friday, January 3, 2025, highlighting the complex intersection of law enforcement and child welfare.
Police conducted a raid at Asma’s residence on Thursday night, during which her husband Alam fled the scene. Authorities recovered 500 grams of marijuana during the operation and subsequently arrested Asma. The mother-infant pair initially spent time in police custody before being transferred to prison.
Law enforcement background
Inspector Mohammad Joynal Abedin Mondol of Sreepur Police Station confirmed that Asma faces multiple drug-related charges. The decision to send the infant to prison with her mother was made because the child is still nursing.
Broader context
This case reflects a larger issue within Bangladesh’s prison system, where currently 304 children are living with their incarcerated mothers across 68 prisons nationwide. The presence of children in prisons has raised significant concerns about their welfare and development.
Sub-Inspector Aminur Rahman, who participated in the operation, stated that the raid was specifically targeting Alam, a known drug dealer, but resulted in his wife’s arrest when he escaped.
“The child will stay with her mother as she is still breastfeeding,” explained Inspector Mondol, addressing the decision to keep mother and child together despite the circumstances.
The case has drawn attention to the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in balancing criminal justice requirements with the rights and needs of young children caught in such situations.
Source: Ittefaq
