HC issues rule on formation of committee to probe death of elderly woman in Mirpur

The High Court has issued a rule asking why a probe committee should not be formed to determine the exact cause of death of a 75-year-old woman, Noor Jahan Begum, whose decomposed body was recovered from a residence in the capital's Mirpur-11 on 31 May.

High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice AFM Saiful Karim passed the order today (9 June) after hearing a writ petition, petitioner's lawyer Barrister HM Shanjid Siddique told the media.

In the rule, the court asked why it should not direct the formation of a three-member investigation committee headed by a judicial officer not below the rank of a first-class magistrate.

The HC also asked the home secretary, law secretary, social welfare secretary, director general of the Department of Social Services, National Human Rights Commission, inspector general of police and other relevant authorities to respond to the rule within four weeks.

Earlier, on 3 June, lawyer Sharif Sarkar filed the public interest writ petition. The petition sought directions to investigate whether the incident involving Noor Jahan Begum amounted to a violation of human rights.

The writ also sought a directive from the High Court to the National Human Rights Commission to conduct a proper investigation into the incident and submit a report to the court.

At the same time, the petition sought an order to determine the actual cause of death, noting that the woman's body had remained in the house in such an inhumane condition for seven days after her death without anyone checking on her.

It also requested an investigation by a first-class magistrate to determine whether the death resulted from negligence and sought directions for appropriate action under the existing Code of Criminal Procedure.

In addition, the petition sought a directive for the government, through the Department of Social Services, to introduce a system similar to those in developed countries whereby caregivers are officially appointed for elderly and immobile citizens.

On 31 May, police recovered the decomposed body of Noor Jahan Begum from her flat in Mirpur-11, after receiving a call through the national emergency service 999.

Police said the body, found in a highly decomposed state with maggots present, was handed over to the family following the post-mortem examination.

According to police, the initial assessment suggests death due to natural causes, though the exact time of death remains undetermined.