Body of girl whipped to death exhumed in central Bangladesh

SHARIATPUR, BANGLADESH: The body of a girl whipped to death was exhumed on Sunday night for a fresh port-mortem analysis in central Bangladesh, the Daily Star newspaper reported on Monday.

The body of Hena Akter was exhumed in compliance with a High Court order in Shariatpur, central Bangladesh. The 15-year-old girl died on January 31 after receiving over 50 lashes in public.

The exhumation order was issued following media reports about attempts to conceal the real cause of death. The autopsy report on Akter indicates that no mark of injury was found on the body.

The teenager was whipped publicly due to a fatwa issued by self-appointed arbitrators in the Naria village in Shariatpur district. Akter was sentenced to 100 lashes for allegedly having an illicit relation with her married cousin Mahbub.

Her family and neighbors insisted that she had actually been raped by the man. After receiving about 50 lashes she was taken to a hospital in Shariatpur where she died due to injuries inflicted on her.

On Monday, the court ordered that a three-member team of doctors will conduct the fresh post-mortem. Earlier, the court received the copies of police inquest and the earlier post-mortem reports from Shariatpur.

The new post-mortem report is expected to be ready shortly. Meanwhile, the High Court summoned the officer-in-charge of Naria Police Station, its Sub-inspector Aslam Uddin, and the doctors who prepared the inquest report and the first post-mortem report.

The individuals were requested to appear before the court at 10:30 a.m. local time on February 10. In addition, the doctors and police officials have to appear with relevant files about the incident.

(BNO NEWS )