Daughter of July Movement martyr ‘commits suicide’ after rape

Lamia, a 17-year-old girl and daughter of martyred Jasim Uddin, who was killed in a police firing during the July Movement in Dhaka, reportedly died by suicide on Saturday night.

She was found hanging at her rented house on Road-6 in the Shekhertek area of the capital around 10:00 pm.

Although she was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, physicians declared her dead upon arrival, said Kalam Hawlader, a paternal cousin of the martyred Jasim, over the phone.

Lamia’s grandfather, Sobahan Hawlader, said he spoke to her on Saturday morning. "I told her to come to the deputy commissioner’s office on Sunday to seek government assistance, as her father is a martyr of the July Movement," he said.

"She told me her mother had taken her to Dhaka and that she would return to Patuakhali on Sunday," he added.

Later that night, Kalam Hawlader informed him over the phone about the tragic incident.

Earlier, on the evening of March 18, Lamia, a college student, was gang-raped while on her way to her maternal grandfather’s house in Pangashia union under Dumki upazila. Following the incident, she filed a case against the accused. Police arrested two suspects, Sakib and Sifat, and produced them before the court.

Subsequently, Nahid Islam, convener of the newly formed 'National Citizen Party', visited Lamia while she was undergoing treatment at Patuakhali Hospital and inquired about her family's condition.

BNP Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman also spoke to Lamia’s mother over the phone from London to inquire about the overall situation.

After 37 days of the incident, Lamia's reported suicide on Saturday triggered widespread criticism and outrage on social media platforms.

Maksudur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Dumki Police Station, said Lamia’s body had not yet reached her village home.

"No complaint has been filed yet. However, we received a message regarding the matter, and we are ready to take legal action as soon as the body arrives," he added.