Barlekha (Moulvibazar) Correspondent //

Md. Moniruzzaman Khan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Barlekha Police Station, has disclosed details from the autopsy report regarding the recent, widely discussed death of housewife Mariyam Akter Munni in Barlekha, Moulvibazar.

On Friday morning (September 4), he briefed journalists at his office, explaining the cause of Munni’s death and the various steps taken by the police. He also answered questions from the reporters present.

During the press briefing, OC Md. Moniruzzaman Khan stated that on August 21, police visited the scene around 5:00 PM after receiving reports that Mariyam Akter Munni (22), a housewife from Murirgul village in Barlekha Upazila, had committed suicide. Police subsequently found her body hanging from a wooden beam supporting the tin roof of the toilet in their home. An inquest report was prepared in accordance with standard procedure.

He mentioned that Munni’s father, Haji Mokbul Ali, had requested permission to bury the body without an autopsy, presenting documents related to his daughter’s psychiatric treatment. Although the incident initially appeared to be a suicide, the police deemed an autopsy essential to confirm the actual cause of death.

Subsequently, based on Haji Mokbul Ali’s application, a case of unnatural death was registered at Barlekha Police Station under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Simultaneously, the body was sent to the forensic department of Moulvibazar 250-Bed Sadar Hospital for an autopsy, accompanied by the necessary documentation to determine the true cause of death.

Meanwhile, allegations surfaced via various channels claiming that Mariyam Akter Munni had been tortured and killed by her sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law, who then staged the scene by hanging her body. The police took these allegations—raised by Munni’s parents and relatives—seriously and continued their investigation.

On the other hand, some individuals on social media have been describing the incident as a “murder” and are circulating various statements and claims regarding the matter. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) stated that the police have also taken note of the campaign—conducted via Facebook Live—calling for a human chain at the Shaheed Minar in Barlekha town following Friday prayers on September 4.

The OC mentioned that Munni’s autopsy report reached the police from the hospital on September 3. Upon reviewing the report, it was found that the physician had clearly opined that Munni’s death was a case of suicide.

Responding to a question from journalists, OC Md. Moniruzzaman Khan said that Munni’s father could file a case for abetment of suicide based on information regarding injury marks on her body and the fact that she had informed her father about being assaulted via video call and text messages prior to the incident. He has been asked to come to the police station regarding this matter.

In response to another question, the OC noted that the call records sent by Munni were not initially available.

OC Md. Moniruzzaman Khan urged all citizens to refrain from spreading misleading, false, or provocative information on social media without verifying the actual facts and legal standing of an incident. Such campaigns could lead to a deterioration of the law-and-order situation.

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