Family bars to exhume Soleiman’s body for autopsy

Staff Correspondent :

The body of Hafez Sulaiman Hossain (19), who was killed during the anti-discrimination student movement, could not be exhumed from a cemetery in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, for autopsy due to opposition from the plaintiff and his family members.
On Monday (December 9) at 11:30 am, investigating officer Inspector Hasina Begum from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrived at the cemetery near Madaninagar Madrasa along with Executive Magistrate Md. Tamshid Iran Khan to carry out the court order for exhumation.
However, due to strong resistance from the plaintiff and family members, the officials waited for two and a half hours before leaving without exhuming the body.
Magistrate Md. Tamshid Iran Khan stated, “The Senior Judicial Magistrate Court No. 8 appointed me on August 27, under Section 176(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, to carry out the exhumation. Although I came here to execute the court order, the plaintiff and the family strongly objected to the process. After consulting the District Magistrate, we decided to give them time and advised them to appeal to the relevant court. Further action will be taken based on the court’s decision.”
The plaintiff, Shamim Kabir, explained, “I communicated my objection to the CID because Sulaiman’s parents are unwilling to allow the body to be exhumed. The officials came today to carry out the court order, but we went to the cemetery and opposed it. If the case can proceed without exhuming the body, I will continue it. Otherwise, I may withdraw the case if necessary.”
CID Inspector Hasina Begum, the investigating officer, said, “The family is unwilling to allow the exhumation. Therefore, we’ve given them time to address the issue through the court.”
Sulaiman was reportedly shot dead on August 5 during the quota reform movement in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area, according to the epitaph at his grave. However, the case filed on August 22 alleges the incident occurred near the Dutch-Bangla Bank at Shimrail Intersection on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway.