HC rejects Patuakhali civil surgeon’s apology
The High Court yesterday ordered the director general of the directorate general of health services to conduct an enquiry into a “misleading postmortem report” made in connection with a rape and murder case in Patuakhali.
The court also asked the DG to take departmental action against Patuakhali civil surgeon, if he is found guilty in the investigation of preparing the postmortem report
Civil Surgeon Shah Mojahedul Islam yesterday appeared before the HC as per its May 7 order and offered unconditional apology for making the postmortem report, that termed the rape and murder of seventh-grader Seema “anti-mortem and accidental” (meaning “death and accident”).
But the HC bench refused to accept the apology of the civil surgeon and passed the order.
The court said the same incident cannot be termed “death and accident” at the same time.
The postmortem report was confusing, misleading and contradictory, since rape and murder cannot be an accident, it added.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order during hearing a petition filed by Dahesh Choukidar, an accused of the case, seeking bail.
The court also rejected his bail petition.
The HC on May 7 asked Civil Surgeon Mojahedul Islam to appear before it to explain the postmortem report’s opinion.
Md Rezaur Rahman, a medical officer of a Patuakhali hospital, gave the opinion in the postmortem report over the rape and murder of Seema from Rangabali upazila.
The civil surgeon agreed with it, Assistant Attorney General Yusuf Mahmud Morshed told The Daily Star.
He also said Seema was raped and killed on January 21 last year. Later, her mother Taslima Begum filed the case with Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal of Patuakhali against eight persons, including Danesh Choukidar.
Danesh, who is now in jail, recently submitted the bail petition to the HC, AAG Morshed added.
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