Detained Doctor Holds Up 100 Forensic Reports
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The bloodied body of Shakera Yasmin was recovered from a rented house in Chattogram’s Bandar Tila area on May 27 last year. Her family later filed an unnatural death case at Bandar Police Station. Following the complaint, police arrested her husband, Mohammad Yakub. A post-mortem examination was conducted at Chattogram Medical College (Chattogram Medical College Hospital) morgue on May 28. However, even after a year, the autopsy report has not been submitted, leaving the investigation effectively stalled.
The complainant in the case is Shakera’s brother, Harunur Rashid. Her nephew Faisal Imam said they have repeatedly visited the medical college but were told that the doctor responsible for the forensic report is in jail, making it impossible to prepare and submit the report.
Shakera’s case is not an isolated incident. At least 100 other cases are also stuck due to the absence of Lecturer Chinmoy Barua of the forensic department at Chattogram Medical College. Chinmoy Barua has been in jail for 10 months in multiple fraud cases, including allegations of human trafficking recruitment and financial fraud. His wife, Sharmila Barua, is also an accused in the same cases.
Due to his imprisonment over personal criminal charges, ordinary litigants are suffering. Many have repeatedly visited the medical college hospital but have been unable to obtain forensic reports needed for case progress.
Under standard procedure, the same doctor who collects samples from a body also prepares the forensic report. According to Chattogram Metropolitan Police officials, Chinmoy Barua is responsible for 92 pending forensic reports, 57 cases in the city and 35 in the district. Sources at the medical college said several additional post-mortem reports are also pending under his name, bringing the total to nearly 100.
Chattogram Medical College Principal Professor Mohammad Jasim Uddin expressed helplessness when asked about the situation. He said Chinmoy Barua has been in jail for about a year and his employment status is also now in question under government rules. He added that the biggest problem is the delay in forensic reports.
“We need him to submit reports based on the viscera he collected. We approached the court requesting that he be allowed to review records in jail custody and submit reports to resolve the issue temporarily,” he said.
Police say they are facing the greatest difficulties due to Chinmoy’s absence, as they are unable to submit charge sheets in multiple cases. Arrested suspects are also being denied bail in the absence of forensic reports. Police have repeatedly urged the medical college authorities for reports, while the institution cites his incarceration as the reason for the delay.
About a month ago, Chattogram Metropolitan Police, district police, and the medical college authorities held an emergency meeting on the issue. They later decided to seek court intervention. Following the request, the medical college authorities filed an application in court. The court recently approved the request, allowing records to be taken to the jail so that forensic reports can be obtained from Chinmoy Barua.
Chattogram Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Public Relations) Aminur Rashid said more than 100 reports remain pending due to Chinmoy Barua, stalling case progress. “Following the court order, the process of collecting reports from jail custody is now underway. We hope the problem will be resolved,” he said.