Father’s Body Left in Courtyard Amid Inheritance Dispute

In Hatahazari Upazila, Chittagong, a bitter dispute over property inheritance has escalated to an extraordinary and distressing situation: the body of a recently deceased father has been kept in the family’s courtyard, in a freezer, as his children fail to reach an agreement over burial arrangements.

The incident occurred on Sunday, 21 December, in Ward No. 6 of Hatahazari municipal area. Despite more than 34 hours passing since the death of 70-year-old Mohammad Sekandar, his offspring had yet to settle on funeral arrangements, leaving the elderly man’s remains unburied.

Sekandar passed away on Saturday morning, 20 December, at 6:00 am, due to age-related illnesses. He was the eldest son of the late Noksu Mia of the Dhana Mia Sawdagar family in Ward No. 5, Purbomekhal.

Local sources reported that prior to his death, Sekandar had legally registered all his property in the name of his second wife and her children. This decision had long been a source of tension between the children of his first marriage, five in number, and the three children of his second marriage. Upon Sekandar’s death, when the children of the second wife began preparations for the burial, the children from the first marriage intervened, halting proceedings.

Aysha, the daughter of the first wife, stated:
“My father has left all his property to his second wife and her children, depriving us of our rightful inheritance. Until our share is recognised, we will not allow him to be buried.”

Conversely, Imtiaz, a child of the second wife, appealed for immediate burial:
“Our priority should be to lay our father to rest. Once that is done, we can sit together and resolve the dispute.”

Hatahazari Model Police Station promptly dispatched Sub-Inspector Jalal to the scene. He reported:
“We are engaging both parties and making every effort to reach an amicable resolution, ensuring the deceased receives a proper and timely burial.”

The incident has drawn attention to the complex interplay of family disputes and legal inheritance matters in Bangladesh, highlighting the emotional and societal strain that can accompany property conflicts. Legal experts note that disputes of this nature often delay funerary rites and escalate tensions among surviving family members.

Key Incident Details :

This episode underscores the necessity of clear inheritance planning and effective dispute resolution mechanisms to prevent familial conflict from escalating into public distress and delays in essential rites such as burial.