Women living in camps for refugees of Bangladesh’s war of independence were told a local care home would look after their children. Decades on, many are still searching for them

More than four decades have passed, but Sayrun Nisa still cries for her son as if she lost him yesterday. In 1977, she had been taking care of her child and sick husband at home when there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find two people who claimed they were from Terres Des Hommes Netherlands (TDHn), an organisation that operated in the Dattapara camp for people displaced in the Bangladesh war of independence, where she lived.

“They started telling me about a children’s home they were running,” says Sayrun, now 80. “They said they could take care of my son for me and give him a good education. I had no reason to doubt them as they were from what I thought was a respectable organisation.”

Sayrun recalls feeling unsure as she watched her six-year-old playing in the corner. But when she discussed it with her husband, they felt it might not be a bad idea. “My husband had been sick for a while and was unemployed. If we put our son in the home, it would mean that I could find work,” she says.

A swathe of parties on both sides of the government are calling for a crackdown on the adoption field after a new report reveals identity fraud on South Korean adoptees.

The identity changes meant that South Korean children were on paper orphaned when they were sent from South Korea to their new families in Denmark.

The conclusions in the report, made by the Danish Appeals Board, arouse resentment.

- I think it is quite obvious that the Danish authorities have failed fatally, says Victoria Velasquez, social advisor for Enhedslisten.

The city police arrested a 31-year-old D. Vani, of NGGO’s colony, for allegedly cheating a woman by promising her to arrange the legal adoption of a newborn baby here on Thursday.

According to the police, on December 20 last year, a 35-year-old woman from Kakinada was heading to Vizag along with her aunt on a bus. The purpose of her visit was to get treatment, since she was not blessed with babies despite 10 years of marriage. During her journey, the accused had boarded the bus at Annavaram and sat beside them.

After coming to know about the complainant’s problem, Ms. Vani promised to give a baby after completing legal procedures from the parents concerned. Ms. Vani had asked the complainant to come to King George Hospital (KGH) on December 24. At the hospital, the woman collected ₹80,000 from the victims and asked them to wait at a place, informing them that she would visit the Children’s Ward and come back. However, she did not return. After realising that she was cheated, the woman lodged a police complaint.

Police start to interview witnesses following Guardian reports on adoptions to the Netherlands nearly 50 years ago

Police in Bangladesh have launched an investigation into historical allegations that children were adopted abroad without their parents’ consent, after a Guardian investigation into adoptions to the Netherlands in the 1970s.

Bangladesh special branch in Dhaka confirmed it had opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the adoption of a number of children between 1976 and 1979.

It is the first time police have investigated allegations that children were lured from mothers using a tactic known as the “boarding school scam”, where vulnerable families were offered temporary shelter for their children only to find they were adopted abroad without their consent.

Special Supt Tahsin Mashroof Hossain Mashfi told the Guardian: “Shedding light on the matter has ignited a deep sense of responsibility. We commit to conducting a fair and impartial investigation, striving to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s healing process.”

Changes to the identity of South Korean adopted children were clearly illegal, says legal expert.

It was common knowledge for Danish adoption agencies that their South Korean partners changed the identities of infants before they were sent to their new families in Denmark.

This is shown by a new report from the Danish Appeals Board, which uncovers adoptions from South Korea to Denmark in the period through the 1970s and 80s.

Klaus Josefsen, who is an external lecturer at Aarhus University and an expert in administrative law, calls the report's conclusions too serious.

Bangladesh launches investigation into children ‘wrongly’ adopted overseas

This article is more than 4 months old

Police start to interview witnesses following Guardian reports on adoptions to the Netherlands nearly 50 years ago

Read more: ‘I was told I could visit. Then she went missing’: the Bangladeshi mothers who say their children were adopted without consent

1-IAP-20-2023.doc Vina Khapde (P.S.) IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION AND IN ITS GENERAL AND INHERENT JURISDICTION INDIAN ADOPTION PETITION NO. 20 OF 2023 WITH JUDGE’S ORDER NO. 38 OF 2023 IN INDIAN ADOPTION PETITION NO. 20 OF 2023 Bal Asha Trust, Mumbai …Petitioner Versus 1. Ashu Singhal 2. Riddhi Singhal …Prospective Adoptive Parents / Respondents ---------- Mr. Rakesh Kapoor i/b. M/s. Rakesh K. L. Kapoor & Co. for the Petitioner. Mr. O. Hareendran, Scrutiny Officer, Indian Council of Social Welfare present. Mr. Dilip S. Gurav, Chamber Registrar present. Mr. Sunil Kumar Arora, Executive Director of Bal Asha Trust, Mumbai present. ---------- CORAM : R.I. CHAGLA J DATE : 25 January 2024 ORDER : 1. This Application is made by way of Affidavit dated 19th December 2023 which is taken on record. By the said Affidavit, the 1/7 2024:BHC-OS:1809 ::: Uploaded on - 01/02/2024 ::: Downloaded on - 06/02/2024 11:18:50 ::: VERDICTUM.IN 1-IAP-20-2023.doc relief has been sought with regard to annulment of Adoption order passed by this Court on 17th August 2023, and for directions to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) to re-register Ganesh @ Karthik Singhal (“the said male minor child”) as ‘Free for Adoption’ for identifying suitable prospective adoptive parents at the earliest. Further direction has been sought with regard to the investment of Rs.2,00,000/- which has been made in the said male minor child’s name for his benefit by the said adoptive parents as directed by this Court vide order dated 17th August 2023. 2. Mr. O. Hareendran, Scrutiny Officer has tendered the Report of the Indian Council of Social Welfare dated 16th January 2024 which is taken on record and marked ‘x’ for identification. 3. By order dated 17th August 2023, this Court had granted adoption of the said male minor child to the adoptive parents by Judge’s Order No.38 of 2023 in Indian Adoption Petition No.20 of 2023. This was pursuant to a joint Petition filed by the Specialized Adoption Agency (Petitioner-Institution) and the said adoptive parents. 4. Thereafter, the said male minor child’s physical custody 2/7 ::: Uploaded on - 01/02/2024 ::: Downloaded on - 06/02/2024 11:18:50 ::: VERDICTUM.IN 1-IAP-20-2023.doc was given to the adoptive parents after the adoptive parents had completed all due procedures under Adoption Regulations Chapter III. 5. In the said Affidavit dated 19th December 2023 filed and affirmed by Mr. Sunil Kumar Arora, Executive Director of Bal Asha Trust (Petitioner-Institution), it is stated that 5 months after the adoption Petition was allowed on 17th August 2023, the adoptive parents complained to the Petitioner-Institution about uncontrollable bad behaviour and habits of the said male minor child. 6. The Petitioner-Institution advised the adoptive parents to undergo counseling sessions in order to understand the said male minor child’s behaviourial issues better and try remedial measures to address the alleged behaviourial issues of the said male minor child. The Petitioner-Institution had informed all the concerned authorities i.e. the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), State Adoption Resource Authority (SARA), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), and Specialized Adoption Agency (SAA) who prepared home study report by email dated 19th October 2023 about the adoptive parents’ inability to keep and take care of the said male minor child. 3/7 ::: Uploaded on - 01/02/2024 ::: Downloaded on - 06/02/2024 11:18:50 ::: VERDICTUM.IN 1-IAP-20-2023.doc 7. Thereafter, as per the instructions of the PetitionerInstitution the adoptive parents underwent their first Counseling Session with the Counselor of Specialized Adoption Agency “Bharatpuria Shiksha Samiti” Ghaziabad, U.P. on 28th October 2023. In this counseling session, the adoptive parents informed that they observed the overeating behaviour of the said male minor child and found that the said male minor child was picking food from the dustbin etc. After this incident, they took the said male minor child to the pediatrician and the Doctor suggested few blood tests. They conducted all the blood tests and it has been revealed that the said male minor child has borderline levels of Leptin and Diabetes. Further, the Doctor opined that the said male minor child may be suffering from obesity and other health issues related to diabetes. The first counseling session and blood test reports have been placed on record at page nos.13 to 28 to the said Affidavit. 8. The second counseling session took place on 18th November 2023 and the Counselor found that the adoptive parents are not ready to keep the said male minor child as their own and take necessary remedial measures to rectify certain eating habits of child. The Counselor also found the adoptive parents do not have emotional bonding with the said male minor child, though the child is fond of 4/7 ::: Uploaded on - 01/02/2024 ::: Downloaded on - 06/02/2024 11:18:50 ::: VERDICTUM.IN 1-IAP-20-2023.doc the adoptive parents and their seven year biological daughter who is an elder sibling. The second counseling report has been placed on record at page nos.29-31 to the said Affidavit. 9. On 2nd December 2023, the said adoptive parents have executed an Affidavit stating interalia that “We have not bonded with the child, hence we would like to return the child”. In the said Affidavit, the adoptive parents have stated that they are ready to follow the CARA Regulations and orders of this Court and authorities for the dissolution of this adoption. The said Affidavit has been placed on record at page nos.32-35 to the said Petition. 10. Thereafter, the said male minor child was brought back to the Petitioner Institution on 18th December 2023 by the adoptive parents. 11. The Petitioner Institution by the said Affidavit is seeking annulment of the order passed by this Court on 17th August 2023 for the best interest of the said male minor child and permitting CARA and the Petitioner-Institution to commence the process of finding another adoptive home for the said male minor child in accordance with the procedure under the Adoption Regulations. 5/7 ::: Uploaded on - 01/02/2024 ::: Downloaded on - 06/02/2024 11:18:50 ::: VERDICTUM.IN 1-IAP-20-2023.doc 12. Having considered the averments in the said affidavit as well as the report of Mr. O. Hareendran, Scrutiny Officer, Indian Council of Social Welfare, dated 16th January 2024 which is marked ‘x’ for identification, I am of the considered view that it would be in the interest of the said male minor child that the adoption order dated 17th August 2023 is annulled and consequential reliefs sought for in the said Affidavit are granted. 13. In view thereof, the following order is passed; (i) The order dated 17th August 2023 which has allowed the Indian Adoption Petition No.20 of 2023 is recalled and adoption of the said male minor child is accordingly annulled. (ii) The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is directed to re-register the said minor male child as ‘Free for Adoption’ for identifying suitable prospective adoptive parents at the earliest. (iii) The investment of Rs.2,00,000/- which has been made in the said minor male child’s name for his benefit by 6/7 ::: Uploaded on - 01/02/2024 ::: Downloaded on - 06/02/2024 11:18:50 ::: VERDICTUM.IN 1-IAP-20-2023.doc the prospective adoptive parents as directed by this Court vide order dated 17th August 2023, shall be returned to the prospective adoptive parents. (iv) The adoptive parents are directed to return to the Petitioner-Institution all the original reports and/or any other original documents pertaining to the said male minor child immediately. (v) This order is passed in the disposed of Indian Adoption Petition No.20 of 2023. (vi) Parties to act on an authenticated copy of this order. [R.I. CHAGLA J.] 7/7 ::: Uploaded on - 01/02/2024 ::: Downloaded on - 06/02/2024 11:18:50 ::: VERDICTUM.IN

BENGALURU: The High Court of Karnataka has directed a couple from India to follow the Hague Convention and apply for a 'Conformity Certificate' for their adopted child through the German authorities as the husband is a resident of that country.

The couple had knocked on the doors of the HC seeking a direction to the District Child Protection Unit for issuing them with a 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) and a 'Conformity Certificate'.

The couple had adopted a girl child and the adoption deed between the biological mother and the couple was registered before the sub-registrar in the district headquarters town of Chikkaballapura on March 29, 2023.

The Deputy Commissioner had also verified the deed and recommended that necessary action be taken for the adoption.

But still the District Child Protection Unit refused to grant them the NOC and Conformity Certificate.

Is another documentary about the problems in the adoption field really needed? The short answer is yes, writes Frauke Giebner in this column.

" This should never have happened", says 46-year-old David, when, after ten years of detective work, he understands the extent of the lies in his adoption case.

And we already know that. This means that serious mistakes have been made in adoption cases from a large number of countries. Babies have been traded and lied to as orphans, and parents have been robbed of their children by so-called child harvesters. Can that story stand to be told one more time?

Maya's story

Maja Tae Sook Dreyer , Schlicht Katharina (authors)

This is the story of a special woman and her self-discovery against all odds.
Maja doesn't know her parents, her birthday or her exact place of birth. Just a few weeks old, she was abandoned in Daegu (South Korea) in 1969. After two years in an orphanage in Seoul, she was placed in Germany for adoption.
Here, disturbing borderline experiences of strangeness, rejection, domestic violence, sexual assault and a suicide attempt determine her childhood.
She feels more and more clearly her unconditional will to live and her longing for belonging and a self-determined life in her new home. Therefore, the later encounter with her country of birth is not the focus of the novella. Rather, the authors illustrate in powerful scenes how Maja successfully fights for a fulfilled life despite lasting moments of inner conflict and the role her daughter, her husband and her job as a yoga teacher play in this.
It is also the story of the friendship of two women who at first glance seem very different. The past can be processed together, the present can be experienced and the future can be shaped.