Government Official Reassigned After Elderly Mother Found Decomposed in Neglected Home
Photo Collected
The death of 75-year-old Noor Jahan Begum, whose body was discovered in a squalid apartment in Dhaka’s Mirpur area on May 31, has sparked a national outcry regarding the care of the elderly and the responsibilities of their children. Authorities recovered the remains under distressing conditions, with reports from police describing an unhygienic living environment and signs of severe decomposition.
The discovery prompted swift government action. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Public Administration issued an order withdrawing Noor Jahan’s son, A.K.M. Anisur Rahman, from his position as a member of the Mongla Port Authority and attaching him to the ministry. State Minister for Public Administration Md. Abdul Bari confirmed that the government intends to take legal action in accordance with existing parental maintenance laws.
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Noor Jahan had been living with her daughter, Fatima Nasreen Sultana, in a residence that social media footage later revealed to be in a state of extreme disrepair. Amid intense public scrutiny and allegations of negligence, Noor Jahan’s youngest son, A.K.M. Ashiqur Rahman—a professor at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET)—has publicly defended the family, refuting claims that they abandoned their mother.
Speaking to the media, Ashiqur Rahman characterized the situation as a tragic outcome of mental health struggles rather than intentional neglect. He suggested that both his mother and his sister, Fatima, may have been suffering from undiagnosed psychiatric conditions, including symptoms resembling schizophrenia and deep-seated depression following the loss of her husband. He noted that his sister had become increasingly reclusive and resistant to outside help, often dismissing domestic workers he had attempted to hire to maintain the home.
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“We are already in a state of psychological trauma following our mother’s death, and the spread of false information on social media has only worsened our distress,” Ashiqur stated, maintaining that he had been involved in his mother’s care throughout her life, including managing her medical needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police officers who responded to the scene reported that the apartment was found in a state of extreme neglect, with responders noting the presence of insects on the remains. Ashiqur, however, contested these observations, maintaining he did not witness such conditions himself.
The Pallabi Police Station has completed an autopsy, with officers estimating that Noor Jahan had been deceased for approximately two days before the discovery. Officer-in-charge Md. Hasan Basir stated that formal proceedings will follow the release of the medical examiner’s report. Meanwhile, Fatima Nasreen has remained largely unreachable, with her brother urging the public to refrain from further harassment during an already volatile and grieving period for the family.
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