Bangladesh PM to help eye-for-sale mother
DHAKA, Wednesday (Reuters) Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda
Zia has pledged financial and other assistance to a woman who offered to
sell one of her eyes for money, officials said on Wednesday. Abandoned
by her husband, the 26-year-old Shefali Begum, mother of one baby girl,
offered an eye for cash in a newspaper advertisement last month -
drawing attention from all over the world.
Individuals and charities at home and abroad responded quickly,
offering to send money so Shefali would not have to sell her eye.
"The Prime Minister called Shefali Begum to her chamber on Tuesday
and pledged her a package of government assistance including a home,
free food ration and educational expenses for her daughter," a
government official said.
"Shefali will now have protection from the state so that no
human-organ buyers can approach her," he said. The prime minister gave
her a cheque of an undisclosed amount to deposit in a bank account and
earn interest. "I cannot disclose the amount, but it's a healthy amount,
which will generate enough money to support Shefali and her daughter,"
said the official.
Bangladeshi men have been known to advertise their kidneys for sale
for cash, but Shefali is the first woman in the country known to
advertise an eye. |