The family of two-year-old Sahara Islam Sara, who died under mysterious circumstances in Keshabpur of Gopalganj, has demanded that her body be exhumed and a fresh autopsy conducted to determine the cause of her death.
At a press conference held in Gopalganj on September 4, Sahara’s mother Mukta Begum and aunt Mita Begum alleged that the child did not die in an accident but was deliberately killed and her body was left in a nearby taro field to make the death appear to be a drowning incident.
According to the family, Sahara was found unconscious in the field on August 11. They questioned how the child could have drowned in the small amount of rainwater accumulated there and alleged that there were injury marks on her chest, face, abdomen and near the navel, including what they described as a burn mark.
Mukta Begum said Sahara had been eating mangoes at her grandfather’s house before the incident and was later taken to the room of her uncle and aunt. She said she subsequently searched for her daughter and found her lying motionless in the nearby taro field.
The family also alleged that the child was buried hurriedly without an autopsy and that Sahara’s father, Sagar Khaki, was not allowed to properly see or touch his daughter’s body after returning from Dhaka.
They expressed suspicion over people with whom they allegedly had previous disputes and called for a court order to exhume the body and conduct an autopsy as soon as possible.
The family also raised questions about the statements of local practitioner Prashanta Bagchi, who they said initially told them that Sahara had died some time earlier and had not died from drowning. He allegedly also mentioned a burn-like injury near the child’s navel. The family later accused him of giving inconsistent statements to journalists.
When contacted, Bagchi said he had examined Sahara after relatives brought her to him and found that she had already died. He acknowledged seeing an injury near the navel but later declined to make a definitive statement about the cause of death.
The family also named Ujjal Khaki and Sohel Khaki in connection with their allegations. Attempts to obtain their comments at their village homes were unsuccessful.
Family members also questioned why local elders allegedly did not allow an autopsy or a proper examination of the body before burial. One of the elders, Badr Khaki, could not be reached as he was reportedly away with a religious group. Another elder, Nuru Khaki, initially said over the phone that he was away on business and later declined to meet immediately. He said he had learned through a local ward member that the child had died after falling into water and that he had not been present at the scene.
Meanwhile, Gopalganj Civil Surgeon Dr Abu Sayeed Md Faruk said a village practitioner cannot officially declare a person's death under any circumstances. If such a declaration is made, he said, the matter would be investigated and action could be taken against the practitioner.
The family has urged the authorities to exhume Sahara’s body and conduct a forensic autopsy so that the actual cause of her death can be established and those responsible, if any, can be brought to justice.
