Bangladesh court orders exhumation of ‘whipped to death’ girl’s body for new autopsy

DHAKA - A Bangladesh High Court has ordered the authorities to exhume the body a 14-year-old girl who was whipped to death by a village body for allegedly having an illicit relationship with her married cousin, and conduct another autopsy on her.

The BBC quoted the court as ordering a three-member committee of doctors and forensic experts to conduct another post-mortem to determine the actual reason for her death.

The High Court order comes after the initial post-mortem report said there was “no sign of any external or internal injuries to the body of Hena Begum”.

“The court has also asked local doctors who did the first inquest and autopsy to appear before the court on the 10th of this month. We hope that by this time the new autopsy will be done and the report will be available before the court,” Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said.

Hena Akhter was whipped after the shalish, a village body consisting of local elders, had ordered that she should receive 101 lashes last week for allegedly having an illicit relationship with her cousin and neighbour, Mahbub.

The case took shape when Hena had gone out to use the bathroom when she accidentally met Mahbub, who put something on her mouth to stop her from crying out before raping her in Shariyatpur on January 31.

The assault had left her almost unconscious, unable to walk or talk. When her family complained to the shalish, they raised doubts on her character.

After Mahbub’s wife, Shilpi, complained that he had been secretly meeting Hena, village elders found both cousins guilty and ordered that Hena be given 101 lashes, and Mahbub 201.

After the punishment was carried out, Hena was taken to hospital, and six days later, she was pronounced dead. (ANI)