Photo : BSS

TANGAIL, July 03, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has assumed personal responsibility for the treatment, accommodation and living expenses of a centenarian man who was allegedly abandoned by his family on a roadside in Tangail.

The elderly man, Mofiz Uddin, was found crying beside a bridge in the Boilla area of Balla Union under Tangail Sadar Upazila on Thursday night after reportedly being left there by family members.

According to local residents, the nearly blind man has been unable to move independently for several years due to old age and physical frailty, relying on others for almost all of his daily needs.

A resident of Enayetpur village, Mofiz Uddin is the father of three sons and three daughters. Since the death of his wife about eight years ago, he had been living in isolation. One of his sons has died, his eldest son is paralysed and his youngest son lives separately.

Locals said the elderly man had transferred his remaining property to two of his sons for a nominal Tk 100, after which his position within the family gradually became uncertain.

He had been living at the home of his paralysed eldest son, Shamsul. Following the death of Shamsul's wife, the house was occupied by his granddaughter and her husband, who, according to local residents, were unwilling to care for him.

They allegedly took the elderly man nearly three kilometres away from the house on Thursday night and abandoned him beside the road, where he remained crying until local residents identified him and informed the authorities.

After learning of the incident, State Minister Sultan Salauddin Tuku immediately directed Officer-in-Charge of Tangail Sadar Police Station Golam Mukhtar Ashraf Uddin to take necessary action.

Acting on the minister's instructions, police rescued Mofiz Uddin and placed him in the care of his youngest daughter, Rina Begum. Police also initiated legal proceedings against those allegedly involved in the incident.

The state minister announced that he would personally bear all expenses related to the elderly man's treatment, food, accommodation and other essential needs. He also said steps had been taken to ensure that Mofiz Uddin receives an old-age allowance as soon as possible.

Tuku further said that if necessary, he would arrange separate rented accommodation for the elderly man and continue to bear the associated costs.

Officer-in-Charge Golam Mukhtar Ashraf Uddin told BSS that police responded immediately after receiving the minister's directive.

"He is now in the care of his youngest daughter. The granddaughter has been taken into police custody, while her husband fled after noticing the presence of police," he said.

Although initially reluctant to take responsibility for her father, Rina Begum later agreed to care for him after speaking with the state minister.

"I came to know through neighbours that my father had been left beside the road. It was heartbreaking to see him in such a condition. The state minister spoke to me and assured me of all kinds of assistance. From now on, I will take responsibility for my father," she said.

Condemning the incident, Tuku described the abandonment of the elderly man as deeply inhumane.

"Abandoning a helpless elderly man on the roadside in this manner is extremely inhumane and heartbreaking. Parents are our greatest blessing, and there is no excuse for neglecting them," he told BSS.

"I will take responsibility for this elderly man's treatment, food, accommodation and all necessary support for as long as required," the state minister added.