A garment worker from Bhola was allegedly abandoned by her husband shortly after giving birth to a baby girl at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), after he reportedly said he would only accept the child if it were a boy.
Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Jahidul Islam Miah later intervened and provided assistance to the mother and newborn.
Shahnaz Akhtar Shelly, a resident of Chattogram city’s Ice Factory area, married sailor Bellal about a year ago after a relationship. She later discovered that her husband already had a wife from a previous marriage, but continued the relationship and became pregnant.
During her pregnancy, her husband allegedly told her he would not take responsibility for the child if it was not a boy.
On 16 April, Shahnaz was admitted to CMCH with labour pain and later underwent a caesarean section, delivering a baby girl. Hospital sources said her husband left shortly after the delivery, informed her over the phone that he was divorcing her, and cut off contact.
Shahnaz remained alone at the hospital after birth and was later found in a vulnerable condition without family support.
On 20 April, the newborn developed jaundice and was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she received phototherapy under medical supervision.
After being informed of the situation, the deputy commissioner contacted hospital authorities and ensured treatment for the newborn. He visited CMCH on Tuesday, met the mother and child in the NICU, and provided financial assistance, clothing and essential supplies on behalf of the district administration.
He said both mother and baby were now stable and improving, and arrangements were being made for their discharge.
Calling for social responsibility, he urged people to act with conscience, saying such incidents push families into crisis.
Human rights activists called the incident deeply troubling, saying discrimination against women for giving birth to daughters persists in parts of society and calling for stronger awareness and legal action.
Doctors said the newborn’s jaundice had been successfully treated through phototherapy and both mother and child were in stable condition.
