‘I Won’t Pay, I Won’t Take My Son’s Body’
File Photo
A young man named Mamun Ali of Dairapakh area under Chandrima Police Station in Rajshahi Metropolitan City, died after falling from a neighbor’s tree while climbing to collect coconuts.
He was injured in the fall and later died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). The unexpected death of the energetic young man left his father Sekendar Ali devastated and later entangled in a police dispute.
Tension erupted at the RMCH morgue when Sekendar Ali went to receive his son’s body. He alleged that police demanded Tk 10,000 to release the body without an autopsy. In anger, the grieving father said, ‘We will not pay money, nor will we take our son’s body’. Police denied the allegation.
The incident took place on Wednesday. According to family members, Mamun Ali (30) fell from a neighbor’s coconut tree on Tuesday afternoon while attempting to collect coconuts. He was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in critical condition and died there on Wednesday morning.
Relatives later submitted a written request to Chandrima Police Station under the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police seeking to hand over the body without an autopsy. Following this, Sub-Inspector Nasir Uddin of the police station, along with several officers, went to the RMCH morgue, where a heated argument broke out.
Standing beside his son’s body, Sekendar Ali said, ‘My family has no complaint against anyone regarding my son’s death. That is why we wanted to receive the body without an autopsy. But Sub-Inspector Nasir said the body would only be released after an autopsy unless Tk 10,000 was paid. I cannot pay the money. If needed, I will not take the body, but I will not agree to an autopsy.’
The allegations triggered tension in front of the RMCH morgue on Wednesday afternoon. At one point, angry relatives left the morgue premises.
After being informed of the situation, senior officials of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spoke with the deceased’s family. Later in the evening, the body was handed over without an autopsy. The funeral was held at night.
Responding to the allegation, Sub-Inspector Nasir Uddin of Chandrima Police Station denied the claim of demanding money, calling it 'completely false and baseless.' He said an unnatural death case had been filed at the police station and legal procedures were being followed, which caused a delay in handing over the body.
Chandrima Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam also rejected the allegation. He said the process was being carried out under instructions from senior officials to avoid legal complications, and the family became upset and raised allegations against police.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Md. Gaziur Rahman said that an investigation would be conducted if the family files a written complaint. He also assured that departmental action would be taken if the allegations are proven true.
