Bagerhat BCL leader's wife, child laid to rest

The wife of banned Chhatra League leader and their nine-month-old child were laid to rest at their family graveyard in Bagerhat early today following their namaz-e-janaza.

The burial took place side by side at her family graveyard in Sabekdanga village of Bagerhat Sadar upazila around 12:00am.

Kaniz Suborna Swarnali, 22, was the wife of Jewel Hasan, also known as Saddam, president of BCL's Bagerhat Sadar upazila unit. Saddam is currently detained at Jashore Central Jail.

Earlier yesterday, Saddam was allowed to see his wife and infant for the last time under police supervision at the jail gate as their bodies were brought there in an ambulance.

According to jail authorities, six family members were permitted to be present at the jail gate area during the brief farewell, which took place around 7:30pm.

Family members said they had initially applied for Saddam’s temporary release on parole to attend the funeral, but when that was not granted, arrangements were made to bring the bodies to the jail gate instead.

Police earlier recovered the bodies of Swarnali and her child from their residence in Sabekdanga village around noon yesterday. After post-mortem examinations at Bagerhat 250-bed District Hospital, the bodies were handed over to the family.

Speaking to reporters, Swarnali’s brother Shubho said his sister had married Saddam around five years ago. He said she had been under severe mental distress since her husband’s arrest following the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, and his subsequent implication in several cases.

“My sister had been mentally distressed since her husband’s imprisonment. She tried in many ways to secure his release. This caused severe mental stress and depression,” he claimed.

Subarna’s father, local Jatiya Party leader Ruhul Amin Howlader, said, “My daughter died by suicide. We do not want to blame anyone. We applied to receive the bodies of my daughter and grandson without delay. Now we will follow whatever decision the administration takes.”

Officer-in-Charge of Bagerhat Sadar Police Station Mohammad Masum Khan said a murder case had been filed over the death of the child.

“At this stage, whether the death of Subarna was a murder or a suicide will be determined after the official autopsy report is received,” he said yesterday, adding that further legal steps would depend on the findings.

He also said matters related to the husband’s parole and other arrangements fall under the jurisdiction of the district magistrate, not the police.

Police said the autopsy report had not been received as of 9:00pm yesterday.