Four Children Served Legal Notice

A legal notice has been sent to four children seeking a written explanation over allegations of severe negligence, irresponsibility, and failure to fulfill caregiving and legal obligations in connection with the death of elderly mother Nurjahan Begum. Supreme Court lawyer Farzana Yasmin Rakhi issued the notice on Wednesday.

The recipients have been asked to respond within seven days of receiving the notice. Otherwise, the notice states that necessary legal steps will be taken in the public interest and for the protection of the rights of senior citizens. The matter may be brought to the attention of relevant administrative authorities, the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Social Welfare, law enforcement agencies, and the High Court.

The four children named in the notice are Joint Secretary of Khulna Seaport Dr. AKM Anisur Rahman, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Dr. AKM Ashikur Rahman, Canada-based KM Atikur Rahman, and schoolteacher Fatima Nasrin Sultana.

The notice states that the death of Nurjahan Begum is not only a family tragedy but has also raised serious concern and anger regarding national conscience, human values, and family responsibility. It further says the incident has deeply affected people both at home and abroad.

It also notes that, according to reports published in national media, 75-year-old Nurjahan Begum died alone in an apartment in Mirpur, Dhaka, after remaining unattended for an extended period. Her body was recovered nearly seven days later.

Published information further suggests that despite having several established children, she was deprived of necessary care, attention, and human companionship. This has raised serious questions.

The notice states that the incident is not merely a private family tragedy but has become a matter of national concern regarding the rights of elderly citizens, family responsibility, social ethics, and the rule of law.

It further cites Articles 15, 27, 31, and 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, stating that ensuring dignity, equal protection under law, and the right to life and security is a shared responsibility of the state and the family, particularly in protecting vulnerable elderly citizens.

It also references the Maintenance of Parents Act, 2013, which imposes a legal obligation on children to provide maintenance, care, and support to their parents. The law clearly establishes that caring for parents is not only a moral duty but also a legal responsibility.

The notice further states that when a mother who raises and nurtures her children dies in loneliness, neglect, and lack of care in her final days, and her body remains unattended in a closed room for a prolonged period even after death, it becomes a matter of deep shame, sorrow, and moral questioning for a civilized society.