Re-autopsy ordered on the body of ex-MP Tipu Sultan’s daughter-in-law

A Dhaka court has ordered a re-autopsy on the body of Dr Shamarukh Mahjabin, daughter-in-law of former Awami League MP Tipu Sultan.

Metropolitan Magistrate Bikash Kumar Saha on Tuesday instructed Dhaka's deputy commissioner to carry out the order after hearing a plea by the doctor’s father Nurul Islam.

Shamarukh was declared dead on Nov 13 after being taken to the Central Hospital from the ex-MP's Dhanmondi residence.

Her in-laws claimed she had committed suicide but her family blamed her husband Humayun Sultan Shadab and his parents.

Her former classmates at Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College have been observing various programmes claiming she had been murdered.

Dhaka City police's Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anisur Rahman told bdnews24.com that the deputy commissioner had been ordered to submit a report after the re-autopsy.

Initial autopsy report described Shamarukh’s death as a case of suicide, but her family rejected it and moved the court.

Her father Islam alleges the former Awami League MP and his doctor wife have influenced the autopsy report.

The court also ordered forming a three-member committee, comprising a civil surgeon, to supervise exhumation.

Shamarukh, 24, was married to Sultan's son two years ago and had been living at her father-in-law's house.

She was doing FCPS at the BSMMU after obtaining an MBBS degree. Her mother-in-law Jesmin is a doctor at Holy Family medical college.

Her father accused her husband, the ex-MP and his wife in a murder case on Nov 13. Both Sultan and his wife secured anticipatory bail but their son is currently being questioned by police.

Islam alleged Shamarukh's husband had claimed himself to be a 'barrister' during the marriage even though he was not and later demanded dowry on several occasions.

He feared her in-laws would influence the autopsy and try to pass it on as suicide.

Dhaka Medical College and Hospital's Forensic Department chief Habibuzzaman Chowdhury performed the autopsy.

After getting the report on Sunday, Dhanmondi police OC Abu Bakar Siddique told bdnews24.com that it said the doctor had committed suicide by strangling herself.

Shamarukh's father Nurul Islam said he would move the court for a re-autopsy.

"I reject this autopsy report," he said.

He said during a telephone conversation his daughter had feared she would be killed as she learnt of her father-in-law's 'illegal activities'.

The retired engineer has advised police to check his call records.

Dhanmondi police Sub-Inspector Shariful Islam, investigating the case, told bdnews24.com that they were trying to procure an audio tape of the conversation.