Autopsy finds evidence of rape in 7-year-old Mahida’s death: Doctors

Doctors conducting the autopsy on a seven-year-old girl who died in Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria yesterday (25 September), have found evidence of rape and said she died from excessive bleeding and suffocation.

The deceased, Mahida Akter, was the daughter of Saudi Arabian expatriate Md Mozammel Mia from Andidil village under Talshahar Union in Ashuganj upazila. She was a Class II student at Fatema Noon Nessa Madrasa.

Shahin Bhuiyan, resident medical officer of Brahmanbaria General Hospital and the doctor who conducted the autopsy, disclosed the findings this afternoon (26 September).

A case was filed with Ashuganj Police Station by Mahida’s mother, Monira Akter, accusing Jahidul Islam, 20, of rape and murder.

Police showed Jahidul, son of the deceased Shah Alam of Andidil village and a paternal uncle of Mahida, arrested in the case and produced him before the Judicial Magistrate (Fifth) Court this afternoon.

According to the case statement, Monira went to the district headquarters with her sick son on Friday morning to see a doctor. Mahida was playing with her classmates at the time.

At noon, Jahidul asked Mahida to bring him water. After she brought water in a pitcher, he allegedly asked her to accompany him into a room. He then allegedly took her to an abandoned room, where he raped her and suffocated her by pressing a pillow over her face and strangling her, according to the case statement.

Later, Monira returned home and, unable to find Mahida, began searching for her. She eventually found the girl unconscious in Jahidul’s room and rushed her to Brahmanbaria General Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

“Usually, I conduct autopsies alone. But since there was an allegation that Mahida had been raped, gynaecology specialist Kamrunnahar was also present during the autopsy,” said Shahin Bhuiyan.

He said Kamrunnahar found signs of rape as well as injuries on different parts of the child’s body.

“The autopsy found two causes of Mahida’s death. One was suffocation by pressing her nose and mouth. The other was excessive bleeding,” Bhuiyan said.

“As she was a child, she died from blood loss caused by the rape,” he added.

Meanwhile, members of Oikoboddho Sadar Brahmanbaria and people from different professions held a human chain and protest at Brahmanbaria Press Club premises this afternoon (26 September), demanding justice for Mahida’s rape and murder.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) of Brahmanbaria Arafatul Islam, said Jahidul was sent to court in the afternoon.

“Further action will be taken according to the court’s order,” he said.