Woman detained over killing of one-year-old daughter in Sylhet

A one year and eight months old girl was found dead with her throat slit in Sylhet early today (22 May), with police detaining the child’s mother in connection with the killing.

The victim, Maimuna Jannat Toha, was the daughter of Amir Ali and Subina Begum from Puratan Kalaruka village under the jurisdiction of Jalalabad Police Station in Sylhet.

Quoting locals, Jalalabad Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shamsul Habib said Amir had gone to a local mosque for Fajr prayers, when the mother allegedly killed the child using a sharp household cutting tool.

Upon returning home, Amir found his child dead inside the house.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (North) Mohammad Saiful Islam said police visited the scene after receiving the information and prepared an inquest report before sending the body to a morgue for an autopsy.

Subina, 25, initially restrained by locals, was later taken into police custody, he added.

Saiful said Subina did not immediately respond to police questioning.

“She will be interrogated once she is in a stable condition. It will then be possible to determine whether there were any other factors behind the incident.

“Preliminary information suggests she had been suffering from mental health issues and was undergoing treatment.”

Police said they will record the case as a murder case if the child’s father files a complaint against Subina.

The child’s father, Amir, said Toha woke up around the time of the Fajr call to prayer.

Before leaving for the mosque, he asked his wife to wake up and pray, he added.

After the prayers, his younger son informed him that Toha had been killed, Amir said, adding that before he returned home, their elder son had gathered neighbours at the scene.

Amir Ali said the family is preparing to file a case and will decide on further steps after consulting relatives.