Bagerhat has been shaken by a heart-rending incident involving the deaths of a student political leader’s wife and their nine-month-old child. Authorities have confirmed that a parole request, intended to allow the detainee to attend to the matter, was rejected in accordance with court and prison regulations.
The application was submitted on Friday, 23 January, at the Deputy Commissioner’s residence. After being informed, the district administration forwarded the matter to the relevant prison authorities. However, as the accused, student league leader Saddam, is currently held at the Jessore Central Jail, the application could not be entertained under the provisions of the 2016 Prison Act.
The Deputy Commissioner stated:
“The applicants were informed about the proper legal procedure. They understood the situation and expressed their satisfaction. No further communication has taken place since then.”
Among the applicants was Saddam’s maternal uncle, Md. Hemayet Uddin. He explained that, despite submitting a written request to the Bagerhat District Magistrate, the prison authorities clarified that they had no jurisdiction to grant parole while the detainee remained at Jessore Central Jail. Saddam was advised to apply to the prison where he is currently held. Subsequently, he was permitted to view the bodies of his wife and child for just three minutes.
The tragic deaths occurred in Sabekdanga village, Bagerhat Sadar Upazila. On Friday afternoon, the bodies of Kaniz Subarna Sornali and her infant son, Nazim, were discovered. Police and family sources indicated that, in a state of severe mental distress, the mother killed her child before taking her own life.
Chronology of Events
| Event | Date & Time | Location | Remarks/Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parole request submitted | 23 Jan | Deputy Commissioner’s residence | Forwarded to prison authorities |
| Parole request rejected | 23 Jan | Jessore Central Jail | Inadmissible under 2016 Prison Act |
| Bodies recovered | 23 Jan, afternoon | Sabekdanga village | Wife found hanging; child found on floor |
| Viewing of bodies | 23 Jan, evening | Jessore Central Jail | Only three minutes allowed |
| Burial | 24 Jan, night | Sabekdanga village | Wife and child buried side by side |
Saddam was arrested on 5 August in Gopalganj and remains in custody at Jessore Central Jail on multiple charges.
The burial took place shortly after midnight on Saturday in Sabekdanga village, with around a dozen relatives present. The bodies were temporarily taken into the prison premises to comply with formalities before being interred together.
The incident has caused widespread distress locally and sparked social discussion about the complexity and rigidity of parole procedures in cases of family emergencies.