In Bagerhat, the wife and child of a detained Chhatra League leader were buried alongside him

In a heartrending ceremony on Saturday night, a young mother and her nine-month-old child were laid to rest side by side in their family grave in Bagerhat. Kaniz Subarna, also known as Swarnali (22), and her infant son, Sejad Hasan Nazif, were buried at her father’s ancestral plot in Sabekdanga village, Sadar Upazila, following prayers at the local Eidgah ground.

The funeral prayers were held at 11:20 pm, after which the mother and son were transported to the burial site. The burials were completed shortly after midnight, marking the final farewell for the grieving family.

Their lifeless bodies had been recovered the previous day, Friday afternoon, from Kaniz Subarna’s husband’s residence in the same village, where they were found hanging.

Kaniz Subarna was the wife of Juel Hasan, also known as Saddam, president of the outlawed Chhatra League in Bagerhat Sadar. Juel is currently incarcerated in Jashore District Jail. Following post-mortem examinations at Bagerhat District Hospital on Saturday afternoon, the bodies were brought to Subarna’s parental home for final rites. After traditional bathing and preparation, they were transported around 4:15 pm to Jashore Central Jail, allowing Juel a final glimpse of his wife and child under strict security.

Authorities reported that, in consideration of the circumstances, six family members were permitted to accompany the bodies into the prison compound.

Family sources revealed that Kaniz and Juel had been married for several years, with Juel already imprisoned prior to their child’s birth. Kaniz’s brother, Md. Shuvo, stated that the mother had been mentally distressed due to her husband’s incarceration. “She was deeply troubled. There may have been other reasons, too. We request the authorities investigate thoroughly,” he said. He added that the infant had never been held by his father, and the brief visit allowed Juel to see his son one last time.

The denial of temporary release for Juel to attend the funeral prompted public criticism on social media. Bagerhat District Commissioner Golam Md. Baten explained, “A parole application was submitted, but as Juel is in Jashore, any such request must go through the Jashore District Commissioner or Jail Superintendent. We have coordinated with the prison authorities to ensure the family could see their deceased relatives properly.”

According to local sources, Juel had been in hiding since 5 August 2024 and was arrested in Gopalganj on 5 April last year. Since then, he has been serving multiple sentences in prison.

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