Staff Correspondent: An elderly man, reportedly about 100 years old, was rescued after being abandoned on a roadside by his relatives in Tangail. The incident drew the attention of State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock and Tangail Sadar MP Sultan Salauddin Tuku, who immediately stepped in to ensure the man’s rescue, treatment, and long-term care.
The incident took place on Thursday evening in the Boilla area of Balla Union under Tangail Sadar Upazila. The elderly man, identified as Mofiz Uddin of Enayetpur village, was found sitting beside a bridge, crying helplessly after allegedly being left there by family members.
According to local residents, Mofiz Uddin is almost blind and has been unable to move around independently for several years due to old age and physical frailty. He depends entirely on others for his daily needs.
Sources said Mofiz Uddin is the father of three sons and three daughters. Following the death of his wife about eight years ago, he had been living a lonely life. One of his sons has died, his eldest son is paralysed, and his youngest son lives separately. Before reaching this stage, Mofiz Uddin had transferred his remaining property to two of his sons for only Tk 100, after which his position within the family reportedly became increasingly uncertain.
Residents said he had been living at the home of his paralysed eldest son. After the death of his daughter-in-law, his granddaughter and her husband lived in the house. However, they allegedly refused to take care of him and, on Thursday evening, took him about three kilometres away from the house and left him beside the road before fleeing the scene.
Local people later identified the elderly man and informed the authorities.
The matter soon reached State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku, who immediately instructed Tangail Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Mukhtar Ashraf Uddin to take necessary action. Acting on the minister’s directive, police rescued Mofiz Uddin the same night and safely handed him over to the custody of his youngest daughter, Rina Begum. Police also initiated legal proceedings against those allegedly involved in abandoning him. The granddaughter has already been taken into police custody, while her husband reportedly fled after sensing the police presence.
The minister did not stop at arranging the rescue. He personally pledged to bear all expenses related to the elderly man’s treatment, food, accommodation, and other essential needs. He also said steps would be taken to ensure that Mofiz Uddin receives an old-age allowance as quickly as possible. If necessary, separate accommodation will be rented for him, with all related costs to be covered personally by the minister.
