On Friday afternoon, residents of Sabekdanga village in Bagerhat Sadar returned from Friday prayers to shocking news: the lifeless bodies of a young housewife and her nine-month-old child had been discovered at their home.
Locals reported that Kaniz Subarna, also known as Swarnali, aged 22, was found hanging from the ceiling of her husband’s home. Her infant son, Sejad Hasan (Nazif), was discovered drowned in a bucket of water in the bathroom. Relatives and neighbours, hoping to save the child, rushed him to Bagerhat District Hospital, but doctors confirmed he had already passed away.
Dr Sakiya Haque, on duty in the emergency department, stated, “The infant arrived in a critical state, but it was already too late. We attempted resuscitation for approximately 45 minutes. It was unclear whether the child had fallen accidentally or been placed in the water deliberately.”
The police from Bagerhat Sadar Model Thana recovered Kaniz’s body and sent it to the hospital morgue. Kaniz was married to Juel Hasan, also known as Saddam, the president of the Bagerhat Sadar unit of the banned student organisation Chhatra League, who is currently incarcerated in Jessore Central Jail.
Family Concerns and Suspicions
Initially, relatives and locals suggested that Kaniz, struggling with depression over her husband’s imprisonment, may have taken her own life after killing her child. However, her brother Shah Nawaz Amin disputed this narrative, stating, “My sister was murdered. There are significant gaps in the timeline. No one was in the house when the incident occurred.”
Kaniz’s father, Ruhul Amin, vice-president of the District National Party, has filed a murder case against unidentified persons. “I saw my daughter hanging and later learned my grandson had died. My daughter could have taken her own life, but how did my grandson die? The police need to investigate thoroughly,” he said.
Saddam’s younger brother, Shahidul Islam, said that Kaniz deeply loved her husband and had been devastated by his continued imprisonment. “We obtained bail for him four times, but new cases kept sending him back to jail. He still faces 11 pending political cases.”
Limited Opportunity for Final Farewell
On Friday, Kaniz and her son’s bodies were brought to Jessore Central Jail for Saddam to view them one last time. He was given less than five minutes to see them. “He could not hold his child alive, and now too late, he could only place his hand on the child’s head,” Shahidul Islam recalled. “He said, ‘I failed as a father and husband. Please forgive me.’”
Despite public outcry over the denial of Saddam’s parole, the Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner clarified that no formal parole application had been submitted. Because Saddam was held in Jessore, Bagerhat authorities lacked the legal authority to grant parole. Humanitarian measures were made only to allow a brief viewing of the deceased.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Deceased | Kaniz Subarna (22), Sejad Hasan (9 months) |
| Discovery Location | Sabekdanga village, Bagerhat Sadar |
| Condition | Kaniz hanged; child drowned in bucket |
| Legal Action | Murder case filed by Ruhul Amin |
| Prisoner | Juel Hasan/Saddam, 11 cases pending |
| Parole Status | No formal application; brief viewing allowed |
| Police & Hospital | Child resuscitation attempted 45 mins; no injuries on mother’s body |
Official Statements
Assistant Inspector General of Prisons, Jannatul Farhad, stated that the prison authority was not at fault: “Parole decisions rest with the District Magistrate of the jail’s location. Our role is only to facilitate the execution of that order.”
Bagerhat Police Officer-in-Charge Masum Khan confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that forensic results will determine further legal proceedings. Preliminary reports indicate no external injuries on Kaniz, and water was found in the child’s lungs and brain.