Abida Begum, 28, a garment worker, was on her way from Dhaka to her father’s home with 20 days still to go before her baby was due. But on the way she went into severe labour, and her second child, a healthy baby boy, was born on the moving bus. On hearing of the birth, the bus company gave mother and child free bus travel for life.
It happened last Friday on an Anas Enterprise passenger bus travelling from Dhaka to Burimari, in the Mithapukur area of Rangpur. It became known on Thursday, when a delegation from Anas Enterprise took gifts to Abida’s home.
Abida Begum is the daughter of Abed Ali of Romoniganj village in Fakirpara union of Hatibandha upazila, Lalmonirhat. She lived with her family in Zirani, Dhaka, for work.
According to her family, Abida took maternity leave after becoming pregnant for the second time. Her doctor had said the baby was due in another 20 days, so last Friday she set off for home with her first child and her father, boarding an Anas Enterprise bus from Dhaka to Burimari.
In the Mithapukur area of Rangpur she suddenly went into severe labour on the moving bus. Hearing her cries, the driver and supervisor stopped the bus and the male passengers were asked to get off. With the help of the women passengers, Abida gave birth to her second son on the bus.
The bus supervisor, Majnu Mia, said: “When we suddenly heard the mother crying out, we stopped the bus and took the male passengers off. Then, with the other women passengers helping, the mother, Abida, gave birth to a boy. The bus owner later announced free bus travel for life for mother and son.”
The birth brought joy to the passengers, and Majnu Mia handed out sweets. The family later named the newborn Anas Hasan, after the bus.
When the news spread, the owner of Anas Enterprise, delighted, sent gifts to the baby’s home and announced free bus travel for life for Abida and her newborn son.
Abida’s father, Abed Ali, said: “I was bringing my daughter Abida to our home to give birth. The doctor had said there were 20 more days. But on that day another grandson was born on the moving bus. Mother and son are both well. Please pray for them.”
Fazal Rahman Khokon, chairman of the Fakirpara Union Parishad, said he heard about it through a union council member and that it had caused a great stir in the area.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report